The reproducibility of the Schirmer test

ABSTRACT

The Schirmer test was performed 1350 times in 110 normal individuals and 15 dry eye patients to investigate the significance of the test as a diagnostic method for dry eye. The reproducibility of the Schirmer test was 54.5% in normal individuals and 41.9% in dry eye patients. There was no difference in the reproducibility between the groups with topical anesthesia and those without it. The ratio of misdiagnosis by Schirmer test was 48.4%. These results suggest that it is impossible to differentiate dry eye patients from normal individuals by the Schirmer test.