Shirmers test

Alternative names:

tear test; tearing test

What the risks are:

Essentially, there are no risks.

Special considerations:

This test indicates the amount of tear production and/or ability to drain tears into the nose. It is not specific as an indicator of the cause of tearing difficulties such as dry eye.

Close the eyes gently during the test. Tight closing of the eyes or rubbing the eyes during the test can cause abnormal test results.

Do not rub the eyes for at least 30 minutes after the test. Contact lenses should be left out for at least 2 hours after the test.