The tear ferning test: a simple clinical technique to evaluate the ocular tear film

摘要: A healthy tear film is very important for many major functions of the ocular surface. Dry eye disease a significant clinical problem that needs to be solved but poor correlation between signs and reported symptoms makes it difficult clinician apply scientific basis his management. The compounded by difficulties evaluating due its transparency, small volume complex composition. Practical insight into composition would useful patient diagnosis treatment detailed analysis restricted expensive, laboratory-based systems. There pressing need simple test. ferning test laboratory has potential applied in clinic setting investigate way. Drying sample fluid onto clean, glass microscope slide produces characteristic crystallisation pattern, described as 'tear fern'. This currently not widely used because some limitations overcome several studies have demonstrated potential. Such resolved so could assess film.