Dryness symptoms, diagnostic protocol and therapeutic management: A reporton 1,200 patients

Purpose: To report the diagnostic and therapeutic data obtained from 1,200 patients suffering from dry eye symptoms not due to Sjogren's syndrome or o ther autoimmune diseases. Methods: Schirmer test 1, ferning test, breakup t ime, vital dye staining, brush and imprint cytology were performed; data we re grouped into diagnostic profiles, and the therapy was prescribed accordi ng to these. Results: Eight diagnostic profiles were identified. Dry eye wa s diagnosed in 57.1% of patients; the remaining 42.9% were found to suffer from eye discomfort or conjunctivitis of different aetiologies. Conclusions : Subjective symptoms of dryness can hide diseases other than dry eye; comb ined clinical and laboratory tests are requested to make a diagnosis. Our e xperience indicates that a therapy prescribed on the basis of diagnostic pr ofiles provides relief in 79.1 % of cases. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.