ROSE BENGAL TEST IN DIAGNOSIS OF DEFICIENT TEAR FORMATION

Abstract

IN RECENT years more attention is being given to a group of conditions associated with deficient tear formation, or hypofunction of the lacrimal gland. The cause or causes of these conditions are as yet unknown. Whether deficiency in tear formation is caused by endocrine disturbances, infection, the aging process or other factors remains to be determined. It is probable that no one etiological agent is responsible. Sjøgren introduced the term "keratoconjunctivitis sicca," but in English-speaking countries "keratitis sicca" has become the more prevalent name for the disturbance. Emphasis has been laid mostly on the corneal changes associated with the severer forms of the disease. Consequently, many cases of the milder form involving only the conjunctiva have been overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to describe the rose bengal test for the conjunctival, as well as the corneal, changes associated with deficient tear formation. This test is relatively unknown in