Korean J Ophthalmol.  1988 Dec;2(2):69-71. 10.3341/kjo.1988.2.2.69.

The significance of tear film break-up time in the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome

• Lee JH
• Kee CW

• KMID: 1735028
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.1988.2.2.69

Abstract

The significance of tear film break-up time (BUT) was investigated by analyzing its distribution and reproducibility in 30 normal subjects and 20 dry eye patients. The BUTs* were all above 5 seconds and the reproducibility was 65% in normalsubjects. However, those were all below 10 seconds and the reproducibility was 95% in dry eye patients. These results suggest that: 1) The patient whose BUT* is below 5 seconds can be diagnosed as dry eye syndrome. 2) The value of BUT* above 10 seconds can be regarded as normal. (*The mean value of 4 different visits)

Keyword

dry eye syndrome; reproducibility of the BUT; tear film break-up time

MeSH Terms

Adult
Dry Eye Syndromes/*diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Tears/*analysis
Time Factors