How long are the Schirmer strips left in place during a tear test?

The Schirmer tear test is a clinical method used to measure tear production, and the strips are typically left in place for five minutes during this test. This duration allows sufficient time for the tears to moisten the strip and provides an accurate measurement of the volume of tears produced by the eyes.

After the strips are in place for five minutes, they are removed, and the wetting length is measured, which indicates the amount of tear production. It's essential to adhere to this time frame because shorter durations might not provide reliable results, while longer durations could lead to tears evaporating or artificial stimulation of tear production. This standardization in the testing procedure ensures consistency and reliability in diagnosing conditions related to dry eye or other tear film abnormalities.