Evaluación de la Concordancia Entre la Prueba de Schirmer I y la Prueba de Schirmer Modificado de 1 Minuto en Estudiantes Universitarios

Abstract

Introduction: The tear film is a fundamental component in the visual system, it has important functions such as lubricating, oxygenate and protect against infectious agents. The instability of the tear film generates problems of vision quality and a number of complications that affect visual health. Dry eye is a complex multifactorial disease of the tear film and ocular surface characterized by symptoms such as lack of comfort, impaired vision and instability of the tear film that can cause potential damage to the ocular surface. The Schirmer I test consists of inserting the end of a strip of blotting paper into the outer third of the lower bulbar conjunctiva, allowing it to be impregnated with a tear for 5 minutes. The length of the strip moistened with the tear is removed and the test evaluates the total secretion (basal and reflex). Objective: The cut-off point of the Schirmer I test is between 10 and 15 mm, depending on the authors, therefore we decided to evaluate the concordance between the Schirmer type I tests and the modified 1-minute Schirmer test without anesthesia in university students between 18 and 20 years linked to the Santo Tomás University Bucaramanga section. Materials and methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted with 50 students from the Santo Tomás University Bucaramanga University between the ages of 18 and 20 to which a questionnaire was implemented as a technique to learn about symptoms and lifestyles that could influence the Schirmer test. This concordance study evaluated whether the techniques produce similar results when applied to the same subject and performing the test with time differences (1 and 5 minutes) that guarantee absence of variability and similar conditions. Results: Lin's CCC between the tests was poor. The average values obtained in the 1-minute Schirmer test were for the right eye of 8 mm, for the left eye of 8.5 mm and the average values for the 5-minute schirmer test were for the right eye of 17 mm and for the left eye 20 mm 100% of the population evaluated is a user of electronic devices and the signs that most patients report with 70% are foreign body sensation, red eye and blurred vision. Conclusions: The correlation is poor between the Schirmer tests 1 minute and 5 minutes without anesthesia. Therefore the tests could not be homologated. We recognize the need for more studies with broad inclusion criteria.

Keywords: 1 minute schirmer, tear film, concordance