Tear film flow and stability in acute and chronic conjunctivitis

Tear film flow and stability studies were carried out in patients suffering from acute and chronic conjunctivitis by performing Schirmer test-I and break-up-time (BUT) measurements. In this clinical study, patients with chronic conjunctival inflammation demonstrated a premature break-up of tear film despite normal amounts of aqueous tears. In acute catarrhal conjunctivitis the values of BUT were within normal limits, whereas the values of Schirmer test-I were significantly higher (t-test, P less than 0.001) and are considered to be due to reflex hypersecretion of tears.