[Schirmer's test and strip meniscometry : Comparative consideration in the diagnostics of dry eye]

As one alternative to the Schirmer test, strip meniscometry has been presented as a methodology which also seems to be suitable for quantifying a lack of tear volume.

In a randomized prospective clinical study 391 eyes from 201 subjects were assigned to 3 groups according to the severity of eye surface deficiency (group 0: 225 healthy eyes, f/m = 1.25, mean age = 50.1 ± 17.6 years; group 1: 112 eyes with mild keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), f/m = 1.38, mean age = 58.7 ± 13.9 years; group 2: 54 eyes with manifest KCS, f/m = 2.375, mean age = 52.6 ± 14.1 years). Objective test parameters used were strip meniscometry, Schirmer's 1 test and the Jones-test. In order to determine the condition of the ocular surface and tear film more precisely, slit-lamp examination, the detection of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) meniscometry were also performed. Subjective discomfort was objectified by using the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI).

The results of strip meniscometry, Schirmer's 1 test, the Jones test and OCT meniscometry were significantly lower in KCS subjects than in healthy subjects (p < 0.001), whereas the OSDI score was significantly higher (p < 0.001). The parameters strip meniscometry, Schirmer's 1 test, the Jones test and OCT meniscometry scores correlated with each other. Sensitivity and specificity of strip meniscometry ranged from 0.79 to 0.89 and from 0.42 to 0.5.

Strip meniscometry is suitable to detect a lack of tear volume. Advantageous is the rapid performance of the procedure (5 s per eye) and a good agreement with established tests (e.g. Schirmer's test). To improve the specificity, strip meniscometry must be combined with other examination methods.