Strip Meniscometry Correlates With Ocular Surface Tests and Symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of dry eye disease (DED)-related signs and symptoms with two tear function tests.

This was a clinic-based, cross-sectional study with recruitment of consecutive participants. Schirmer test (ST), tear strip meniscometry (SM), and fluorescein tear breakup time were measured and corneal staining score was examined in outpatients at three clinics. Seven subjective symptoms were assessed by interview, including dryness, irritation, pain, lacrimation, fatigue, blurring, and photophobia. Statistical analyses included regression analysis and comparison tests.

The mean age of the 210 participants was 61.2 ± 15.2 years (range, 12-91 years), with 135 women (64.3%) in the cohort. The mean ST value was 12.9 ± 9.3 (0-35) mm, and SM was 2.5 ± 1.6 (0-10) mm, with no difference between women and men. SM values were lower in the presence of irritation (P = 0.046) and photophobia (P = 0.011). Regression analysis revealed ST and SM values were strongly correlated (β = 0.255, P < 0.001). SM was significantly correlated with breakup time (β = 0.149, P = 0.032), whereas there was no correlation between ST and DED-related signs and symptoms.

SM was correlated with DED-related symptoms and breakup time, whereas ST was not. A low SM value could be an alternative clinical parameter to determine tear film-oriented therapy.

Tear strip meniscometry could be a useful tear function examination on a routine clinical basis since it is a 5-second noninvasive procedure and associated with subjective symptoms and the value of the conventional Schirmer test.