Tear film flow and stability in acute and chronic conjunctivitis.

. Tear film flow and stability studies were carried out in patients suffering from acute and chronic conjunctivitis by performing Schirmer test-I and breakup-time (BUT) measurements. In this clinical study, patients with chronic conjunctival inflammation demonstrated a premature break-up of tear film despite normal amounts of aqueous tears. In acute catarrhal conjunctivitis the values of BUT were within normal limits, whereas the values of Schirmer test-I were significantly higher (t-test, P < 0.001) and are considered to be due to reflex hypersecretion of tears.