Repeatability and Diurnal Variation of Tear Ferning Test

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Vision Science
• Biomedical Diagnostics
• Tear Film Analysis

Background:

• The tear ferning (TF) test assesses tear film stability by examining crystallization patterns.
• Understanding diurnal variations in TF patterns is crucial for its clinical application and repeatability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the repeatability of the tear ferning (TF) test by analyzing diurnal changes in tear fern patterns.
• To determine if tear sample collection time affects TF test results in healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three healthy young adults were enrolled, screened for dry eye and ocular conditions.
• Tear fluid samples were collected from the right eye at four intervals: 9 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM.
• TF patterns were graded using the Masmali TF grading scale, and data were analyzed for diurnal variations.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found in TF grades across different collection times (P = 0.351).
• The majority of TF grades (84.8%) fell between 0.0 and 1.5, with an overall mean grade of 1.1 ± 0.3.
• Insignificant correlations were observed between TF grades and McMonnies questionnaire, TBUT, and Schirmer test results.

Conclusions:

• The tear ferning (TF) test demonstrates minimal diurnal variation in healthy individuals.
• TF test results appear consistent throughout the day, supporting its reliability for assessing tear film stability.