Diagnostic Tools and Tests Flashcards
What is the purpose of Tear tests?
They are for contraindication for CL wear
Name 4 tear tests
- Schirmer Test
- Tear Break Up Time (TBUT)
- Lacrimal Lake Assessment
- Phenol Red Cotton Thread Test
What is the purpose of the Schirmer Test?
To evaluate the tear quantity
What do you need to perform the Schirmer Test?
Snow strips (Shirmer Strips), Stopwatch and ruler
Explain the steps of a Schirmer test
- Wash hands and clean work station
- Have patient look up and towards their nose.
- Pull lower lid down and insert 35x5 mm snow strip (with 5 mm notch) into the outer corner of the eye
- Have the patient close their eyes
- Start timing
- Finish test when the patient has wet 15 mm of the strip or after 5 minutes of timing (which every comes first)
What is an acceptable result from the Schirmer Test?
15 mm is wet in 5 minutes.
What is the purpose of the TBUT?
To evaluate test quality
What do you need to perform the TBUT?
Fluorescein , saline, Burton Lamp or slit lamp with blue cobalt filter.
Explain the steps of the TBUT test
- Wash hands and clean work station
- Remove Fluorescein strip from the package and put 1-2 drops of Fluorescein on the dyed end then swipe fluoroscein strip on the sclera while the patient is looking up and away
- Instruct the patient to close their eye and look around (up/down/right/left) to spread tear film across cornea, then blink once and hold open
- Have the patient behind the slit lamp (low magnification) with the blue cobalt filter on
- Time from the last blink to the first dry spot/streak
What are the objective findings for a TBUT?
<7 seconds - contraindicative to CL wear
7-10 seconds - Low TBUT so part time wear , low water lens and comfort drops
10-15 seconds - Average TBUT
What is the Lacrimal Lake?
The pooling of tears collected between the lower lid margin and the sclera
What is the purpose of the Tear Lake Test?
To evaluate quantity and quality of the tears.
What tools do you need to perform the lacrimal lake test?
Slit lamp (can be performed at the same time as TBUT) and observe the tears that are collected
What is the purpose of the Phenol Red Cotton Thread Test?
To evaluate tear quantity
What is the procedure of the Phenol Red Cotton Thread Test?
Perform the same was as a Schemer test, but with a pre-soaked thread of Phenol Red. When the tears come in contact with Phenol they turn red. Measure after 15 minutes.
What are the uses of Fluoroscein? When would you need to use high molecular Fluoroscein?
- Stains the corneal surface where epithelial cells have loosened or desquamated (dead/dying)
- Evaluates GP/PMMA fit
When wearing soft contact lenses (this will not soak into the lens)
What is Rose Bengal? What is it used for?
Why do we not use it much? What is an alternative?
A harmless pink dye. It detects dead/devitalized epithelial cells and those that have lost their protective mucin coating.
Some people complain that it stings. Lisamine Green B
What is a Wratten #12 filter?
A filter used to enhance fluoroscein dye in the eye. It is used in conjunction with a Cobalt Blue filter