title: Optical coherence tomography for measuring the tear film meniscus: correlation with schirmer test and tear-film breakup time.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare tear meniscus height (TMH) and area (TMA) values obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the Schirmer test and tear-film break-up time (TBUT) values.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cross-sectional study, the right eyes of 300 consecutive patients were studied. All patients underwent routine ophthalmologic examination. Schirmer and TBUT measurements were taken, and tear-film OCT images were obtained. Using OCT, the TMH (i.e. the line connecting the intersection of the meniscus with the cornea and eyelid) and cross-sectional TMA were calculated. Patients were divided into Groups 1 (Schirmer values ≤5 mm) and 2 (Schirmer values >5 mm). Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the comparison of groups. Correlations between tear parameters were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in age, logMAR, or IOP values (p = 0.480, 0.077 and 0.146, respectively) between the two groups. Mean TBUTs were 5.1 ± 2.9 and 9.5 ± 4.2 s for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean TMHs were 237.9 ± 108.9 and 324.3 ± 158.9 μm for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean TMAs were significantly lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p < 0.001; 0.027 ± 0.028 versus 0.055 ± 0.059 mm(2), respectively). Correlations between Schirmer values and TMH, and between Schirmer values and TMA, were significant (p = 0.001 and <0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT values were significantly lower in patients with Schirmer values of <5 mm. Tear meniscus measurements obtained by OCT are reliable for establishing a diagnosis of dry eye.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Adana Teaching & Medical Research Center, Baskent University, Adana, Turkey. raltanya@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Altan-Yaycioglu
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sizmaz
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Canan
authors.forename: Muge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coban-Karatas
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence