Many people suffer from dry eye syndrome, a problem with the tear film that lubricates the eye. So say researchers at the Schepens Eye Research Institute.
Their study showed that low levels of tear production may indicate that a patient is at risk to develop dry eye syndrome after Lasik surgery. Lasik is a procedure often used to correct near- and far-sightedness.
Researchers used the Schirmer test to determine the amount of tear production in 24 patients. A piece of paper is placed directly on the eye and the level of wetting is measured after five minutes. A patient with less than 20 mm of wetting on a Schirmer strip is more likely to develop dry-eye syndrome.
Dr. Darlene Dartt, director of the Military Vision Research Programme for the Schepens Eye Research Institute, believes that the information should help ophthamologists identify patients who are not well-suited for the procedure as well as those who would benefit from pre-treatment.