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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cornea. 2021 Feb 1;40(2):258–267. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000002575

Table 2. Schirmer Test in Eyes with Pterygium vs. Controls.

Schirmer I Test was found to be significantly lower in patients with pterygium vs. controls in eight of 19 studies. Basic secretion test was found to be significantly lower in patients with pterygium vs control in five of eight studies. Schirmer II test was found to be significantly lower in patients with pterygium vs controls in four of six studies. The majority of the above studies used industry standard Schirmer tear test filter paper. Eyelid position, when specified, was either open with blinking as necessary or closed for the entire test without blinking.

Year Author n = No. patients, No. eyes Result Eyelid position
Schirmer I Test
2020 Zhao et al.(12) n = 35, 40 2.40 mm lower in pterygium† O
2020 Patkar et al.(13) n = 100, 200 1.54 mm lower in pterygium† O
2019 Safarzadeh et al.(14) n = 95, 190 4.60 mm lower in pterygium† U
2019 Gupta et al.(16) n = 50, 100 1.98 mm lower in pterygium†1 U
2019 Li et al.(17) n = 108, 108 0.41 mm lower in pterygium C
2017 Ye et al.(19) n = 80, 80 1.40 mm higher in pterygium U
2017 Manhas et al.(20) n = 270, 270 3.23 mm lower in pterygium† O
2017 Antony et al.(21) n = 100, 200 4.60 mm lower in pterygium† U
2017 Wu et al.(22) n = 99, 99 1.82 mm lower in pterygium C
2014 Ozsutcu et al.(23) n = 65, 130 1.40 mm lower in pterygium† U
2014 Gonnermann et al.(25) n = 40, 40 0.20 mm lower in pterygium U
2013 Roka et al.(3) n = 228, 228 4.03 mm lower in pterygium U
2012 Julio et al.(27) n = 60, 60 1.00 mm lower in pterygium C
2010 Bandyopadhyay et al.(29) n = 100, 100 Lower in pterygium†2 U
2006 Lekhanont et al.(31) n = 550, 550 Lower in pterygium2 U
2001 Ishioka et al.(7) n = 20, 40 0.80 mm lower in pterygium U
1998 Kadayifçilar et al.(33) n = 140, 140 2.76 mm lower in pterygium O
1991 Rajiv et al.(34) n = 106, 106 7.40 mm lower in pterygium3 U
1980 Taylor et al.(36) n = 30, 54 Lower in pterygium2 O
Basic Secretion Test
2017 Manhas et al.(20) n = 270, 270 2.08 mm lower in pterygium† O
2014 Hashemi et al.(26) n = 1008, 1008 Higher in pterygium2 U
2013 Roka et al.(3) n = 228, 228 3.24 mm lower in pterygium† U
2009 Lu et al.(30) n = 2112, 2112 Lower in pterygium†2 C
2006 Lekhanont et al.(31) n = 550, 550 Lower in pterygium†2 U
2001 Ishioka et al.(7) n = 20,40 3.70 mm lower in pterygium† U
2001 Ergin et al.(32) n = 129, 202 2.41 mm lower in pterygium O
1978 Biedner et al.(37) n = 60, 120 0.32 mm lower in pterygium U
Schirmer II Test
2020 Patkar et al.(13) n = 100, 200 0.59 mm lower in pterygium O
2018 Küçük et al.(18) n = 64, 96 6.00 mm lower in pterygium†4 O
2017 Antony et al.(21) n = 100, 200 5.50 mm lower in pterygium† U
2014 Gonnermann et al.(25) n = 40, 40 2.11 mm lower in pterygium U
2010 Bandyopadhyay et al.(29) n = 100, 100 Lower in pterygium†2 U
2003 Chaidaroon et al.(38) n = 30, 60 0.80 mm lower in pterygium† O
Unspecified
2014 Kampitak et al.(24) n = 92, 184 0.20 mm lower in pterygium U
1984 Pandey et al.(35) n = 1400, 1763 6.61 mm lower in pterygium† U
1983 Pandey et al.(39) n = 1200, 1400 10.11 mm lower in pterygium† U

O = open, C = closed, U = unspecified

†

Statistically significant

1

Significant for pterygium ≥ 2 mm, but not significant for pterygium < 1 mm or 1-2 mm

2

Absolute values not reported

3

Significance unspecified

4

Study included pingueculum only