The 2007 Dry Eye Workshop Diagnostic Methodology Committee included several diagnostic methodologies developed by different doctors and organizations, as well as a table of methodologies in development.
An example of one diagnostic methodology table in the report grades test invasiveness, increasing from A to L. (See below). The authors recommended that some time interval should be left between tests, and that tests selected would depend on facilities, feasibility, and other operational factors.
Diagnostic Methodology Table
Group | Assessment | Technique |
A | Clinical history | Questionnaire |
Symptoms e.g.: dry eye | Symptom questionnaire | |
B | Evaporation rate | Evaporimetry |
C | Tear stability | Non-invasive TFBUT (or NIBUT) |
Tear lipid _ lm thickness | Interferometry | |
Tear meniscus radius/volume | Meniscometry | |
D | Osmolality; proteins lysozyme; lactoferrin | Tear sampling |
E | Tear stability | Fluorescein BUT |
Ocular surface damage; Grading | fluorescein;lissamine green | |
Meniscus, height, volume | Meniscus slit profile | |
Tear secretion turnover | Fluorimetry | |
F | Casual lid margin oil level | Meibometry |
G | Index of tear volume | Phenol red thread test |
H | Tear secretion | Schirmer I with anesthesia |
Schirmer I without anesthesia | ||
Reflex tear secretion | Schirmer II (with nasal stimulation | |
I | Signs of MGD | Lid (meibomian gland morphology) |
J | Meibomian gland function | MG expression |
Expressibility of secretions | ||
Volume | ||
Quality | ||
Meibomian physicochemistry | Oil chemistry | |
K | Ocular surface damage | Rose bengal stain |
L | Meibomian tissue mass | Meibography |
Methodologies to diagnose and monitor dry eye disease: report of the Diagnostic Methodology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007)
Ocular Surface
2007 Apr;5(2):108-52.
View the full report