Alternative reference values for tear film break up time in normal and dry eye populations.

Over the past decade our understanding of dry eye has greatly increased, but the number affected by the condition has also risen. It is estimated 1 of 5 Americans suffers from dry eye1 and about 7-10 million currently require artificial tear preparations to treat its symptoms. 2 The rise in dry eye may be due to several factors, including adverse environments, increased visual tasking (e.g., personal computers and television) and the more frequent use of systemic antihistamines. The increased prevalence has led to the need for an even better understanding of the disease and its therapeutic approaches. Consequently, tremendous improvements have occurred in the accuracy and preciseness of the diagnostic tools used to evaluate the condition.