Tear water evaporation and eye surface diseases.

The water evaporation rate from the tear film of eyes with anterior surface pathology (corneal and/or conjunctival scars, meibomitis) was tested by means of the "Rolando-Refojo tear evaporimeter', which allows noninvasive and reproducible test conditions. These eyes show a statistically significant increase in tear evaporation rate compared to normal eyes. The clinical implications of this finding are discussed.