Tests for Dry Eyes

Dry Eye Questionnaire:

More often than not a health professional will treat dry eye syndrome on the basis of the symptoms alone. A widely used Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ) has been developed to evaluate dry eye symptoms. It comprises 14 questions that can give a score from 0 to 45. A person who has a score in excess of 14.5 have an 87% sensitivity and specificity for dry eye syndrome. Maximum possible score is 45. The closer a person’s score to 45, the higher the likelihood that they are suffering from dry eye syndrome.

(Adv Exp Med Biol 1998;438:835-8).

The McMonnie & Ho Dry Eye Questionnaire follows:

Demographics:

Are you:

• M/F under 25

  0 points

• M 25-45

  1 point

• F 25-45

  2 points

• M over 45

  2 points

• F over 45

  4 points

Do you ever experience any of the following symptoms:

• Soreness

  1 point

• Scratchiness

  1 point

• Dryness

  1 point

• Gritiness

  1 point

• Burning

  1 point

• Constantly

  3 points

• Often

  2 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• Never

  0 points

Have you ever had eye drops prescribed or other treatment for dry eyes:

• Yes

  3 points

• No

  0 points

• Uncertain

  1 point

Do you suffer from thyroid abnormality:

• Yes

  3 points

• No

  0 points

• Uncertain

  1 point

Do you suffer from arthritis:

• Yes

  3 points

• No

  0 points

• Uncertain

  1 point

Do you experience dryness of mouth, nose, throat, chest or vagina:

• Constantly

  3 points

• Often

  2 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• Never

  0 points

Do you regard your eyes as being unusually sensitive to cigarette smoke, smog, air conditioning or central heating:

• Yes

  3 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• No

  0 points

Do your eyes become very red and irritated when swimming in chlorinated fresh water:

• Yes

  3 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• No

  0 points

• Antihistaminics (oral or eye drops)

  1 point

• Diuretics (water pill for hypertension)

  1 point

Or any of these:

• Sleeping Pills

  1 point

• HRT

  1 point

• Oral contraceptives

  1 point

• Tranquilizers

  1 point

Are your eyes dry and irritated the day after drinking alcohol:

• Yes

  3 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• No

  0 points

Are you known to sleep with your eyes partly open:

• Yes

  3 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• No

  0 points

Do you have eye irritation when you wake up from sleeping:

• Yes

  3 points

• Sometimes

  1 point

• No

  0 points

Schirmer’s Test:

This test is used to determine whether the eye produces enough tears to keep it moist. A health profession may administer this test when a patient complains of excessively watery eyes or very dry eyes. The test uses paper strips that are inserted into the eye to measure the production of tears. Tiny slips of filter paper are placed under the lower eye lid or conjunctival sac. The eyes are then closed for five minutes. The paper film is then removed and examined to measure the amount of moisture. Some people find the test to be irritating to the eye. Healthy eyes will produce more than 10 mm of tears in five minutes.

Although Schirmer’s Test has been in use for over a hundred years, it does not identify a large group of patients with dry eyes.

Lactoferrin Assay Test: This test measures the amount of lactoferrin in the tears. This is a sophisticated test which may be done as a follow-up to the Schirmer’s Test.

Fluorescein Eye Drops: Fluorescein eye drops are used to determine the rate of tear production. The drops contain a dye which can be traced by means of as special light as it is washed out of the eye by the patient’s tears.