Reflex epiphora in patients with dry eye symptoms: role of variable time Schirmer-1 test.

PURPOSE: To report reflex epiphora in patients with dry eye symptoms and describe the role of variable time Schirmer-1 test.
METHODS: The study was conducted in 16 consecutive dry eye patients (32 eyes), nine male and seven female, aged 16 to 73 years (mean 48.56-/+16.68 years), presenting with reflex epiphora. Each eye was subjected to Schirmer-1 test and the time elapsed in total wetting of the 35 mm strip from its placement into the conjunctiva was noted and test was graded. This was compared with symptomatology, closed chamber infrared thermometry, humidity, fluorescein tear break-up time (FTBUT), fluorescein stain test, and Lissamine green stain.
RESULTS: Schirmer-1 test differentiated reflex epiphora in dry eye patients into groups 0 to 4 based on time it took to wet the 35 mm strip (Group 0 = <=5 min; Group 1 = <=2 min; Group 2 = <=1.5 min; Group 3= <=1 min; Group 4 = <=1/2 min). The score was -0.04 in 8 eyes, -0.03 in 10 eyes, -0.02 in 2 eyes, -0.01 in 6 eyes, and 0.00 in 6 eyes in Groups 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0, respectively. Reflex epiphora had a statistically significant correlation to the symptomatology (p<0.001), lissamine green staining (p<0.001), closed chamber humidity difference (p<0.001), and FTBUT score (p=0.001). Fluorescein stain test and difference in infrared thermometry did not show any correlation. A statistically significant correlation existed between severe and mild to moderate reflex epiphora (p=0.002). However, the two groups separately failed to show any statistically significant relationship with the symptomatology (p=0.16), Lissamine green (p=0.69), humidity difference from close to open eye position (p=0.17), and FTBUT (p=0.25). Thermometry and fluorescein stain test showed no relationship.
CONCLUSIONS: Schirmer-1 test with variable time quantifies reflex epiphora in dry eye patients, which was significantly related to the other tear function tests.