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The importance of Schirmer test in the elderly patients with epiphora

Aim: To determine the importance of Schirmer test in elderly patients with epiphora. Material and Method: A prospective study on the consecutive patients whose ages are 50 or more with a chief complaint of tearing. The cause of tearing was determined on the basis of the clinical examination including slit lamp examination, Schirmer test, dye disappearance test and irrigation test. The patients having eyelid and conjunctival abnormalities other than pinguecula and pterygium were not recruited in the study. Results: This study included 132 patients with a mean age of 68.7 years. Nasolacrimal system abnormalities were detected in 16 eyes (6.1%). The number of eyes with a Schirmer value of 9 mm or lower was 95 (36.0%). The study population was divided into two groups in respect to the mean age. The patients under the mean age formed group 1 and the elderly patients formed group 2. The statistical analyses were performed between two groups and between two sexes. The only significant difference was detected in the comparison of the groups in respect to Schirmer test results (p<0.01). Lower Schirmer test results were obtained in the group 2 including the patients over the age of 68 years. Conclusion: Epiphora in a normally appearing eye of an elderly patient should first bring the dry eye into mind. So the testing for the dry eye is more important than the dye disappearance test and the irrigation test in patients with a complaint of tearing.