Abstract:

Objectives: To compare the wettability and wetting time between open and closed eyes of post menopausal women using Schirmer’s test without anaesthesia (ST) and to assess the number of dry eyes in open (STO) and closed (STC) schirmer test.

Methods: One-Hundred and Twenty eyes of 60 normal Post-Menopausal women were recruited from Sri Ramachandra University. Schirmer test (ST) was performed in a closed environment with the absence of air flow. This procedure was performed with the subjects both eyes open and closed with an interval of 1 hour and were conducted in 5 minutes. If wetting values are 35 mm before 5 minutes, wetting time should be recorded.

Results: In this study 120 eyes of 60 Post-menopausal women were included. Measurements of ST_I performed with open eyes (27.0 ± 9.5) were higher statistical different from those performed with closed eyes (17.5 ± 11.0) in right eye of the patients. Measurements of ST_I performed with open eyes (27.5 ± 9.9) were higher statistical different from those performed with closed eyes (19.0 ± 11.4) in left eye of the patients. Wetting time of ST_I performed with open eyes (4.1 ± 1.2) were lower statistical different from those performed with closed eyes (4.7 ± 0.8) in right eye of the patients. Wetting time of ST_I performed with open eyes (4.1 ± 1.2) were lower statistical different from those performed with closed eyes (4.6 ± 0.8) in left eye of the patients. The p value from measurements of ST_I for right and left eye was 0.0005 and the p value from wetting time for right and left eye was 0.0005, so, there was a significant change between open and closed eyes.

Conclusion: ST performed with open and closed eyes can have an important influence in the diagnosis of dry eyes in post-menopausal women.

Keywords: Dry eyes, Post-menopausal women, Opened schirmer’s test, closed schirmer’s test.

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