[Methods of the study of basal lacrimal secretion]

The authors propose a nontraditional method for the study of basal lacrimal secretion, based on biometry of the height of the lacrimal flow meniscus during common biomicroscopy. The advantages of this method are shown: it is noninvasive, contact-free, available, and informative for assessing basal lacrimal secretion. The authors defined the normal value of lacrimal meniscus height in health and detected noticeable changes of basal secretion in secondary dry syndrome. Basal lacrimal secretion is suppressed in patients with pathologic changes of the anterior segment of the eye (relapsing erosions, pterygium, chronic conjunctivitis in contact correction, etc.). Prospects for practical use of the method are outlined.