What are the tests performed in the exam room? What do they measure?
There are three common diagnostic tests our ophthalmologists perform in the exam room: Schirmer Tear Test: This test measures the amount of tears your pet’s eye is producing. A small strip of paper is placed beneath the eyelid, slightly irritating the eye and absorbing the tears that are generated in response. After a minute, we see how much of the paper strip becomes wet, measured in millimeters. A healthy animal should produce 15-25mm per minute. Intraocular Pressure Check (Tonometry): Our ophthalmologists can use several different tonometry devices to measure the pressure of the fluid inside your pet’s eye. This test is performed by lightly touching the surface of the eye with the tip of the instrument. A reading is produced in mmHg. Healthy animal eyes generally have a pressure between 15-25mmHg. Fluorescein stain: This test helps our ophthalmologists visualize ulcerations on the surface of the eye. A fluorescent green stain is put on the eye and then washed out. The stain lingers
