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Shorter Schirmer test may be used as alternative to 5-minute test
Cornea. 2010;29(5):497-501.
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Researchers said the 2-minute Schirmer test could be used as an alternative to the 5-minute Schirmer test to reduce patient discomfort.
One hundred sixty-two healthy patients with no symptoms or known pathology affecting tear secretion or drainage were recruited to undergo the Schirmer test without the use of anesthesia. Tear secretions were noted at 2 minutes and 5 minutes.
According to the study, the average tear secretion at 2 minutes was 12.71 mm for right eyes and 12.62 mm for left eyes. At 5 minutes, tear secretion was 16.74 mm in right eyes and 16.83 mm in left eyes. There was no significant difference in secretions between men and women, different ages, or left and right eyes.
"The mean values of tear secretion, in individuals who were expected to have normal secretion, were higher than 10 mm in 2 minutes and higher than 13 mm in 5 minutes," the study authors said. "Only 5.55% of the eyes presented values less than 10 mm in the 2-minute test and values less than 13 mm in the 5-minute test."
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