Comparison of Tearscope-plus versus slit lamp measurements of inferior tear meniscus height in normal individuals.

PURPOSE

To measure the lower tear meniscus height (LTMH) with image by Tearscope and using slit-lamp biomicroscopy with or without fluorescein staining.

METHODS

The lower tear meniscus height was measured in 31 eyes of 31 healthy volunteers (mean age 31.29 years; SD 4.83) with Tearscope and slit lamp with and without fluorescein staining. The mean values of LTMH were measured with different methods and the repeatability of the measurements was statistically analyzed. Measurement of fluorescein tear film break up time (FBUT) and Schirmer test were also performed.

RESULTS

The mean value of LTMH was 0.21 mm (SD 0.07) with Tearscope, 0.20 mm (SD 0.06) with slit lamp without fluorescein staining, and 0.23 mm (SD 0.07) with fluorescein staining. There was no significant difference among the mean values of LTMH with these 3 different measurement methods. Based on the random effect analysis of variance (p=0.05), the measurements were more repeatable with Tearscope-plus than with the other 2 methods. No correlation was found between the LTMH and the results of Schirmer test or FBUT.

CONCLUSIONS

The LTMH could be reliably measured with slit-lamp biomicroscopy without staining, but the measurements were more repeatable with Tearscope.