A new method to collect unstimulated tears in clinical settings
DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2026-26-1-9
T.Yu. Matnenko1, O.I. Lebedev1, S.V. Barinov1, A.N. Zolotov1, Yu.I. Chulovskyi1, D.G. Novikov1, N.A. Kirichenko1, M.A. Korobko1, O.G. Vyhodtseva2
1Omsk State Medical University, Omsk, Russian Federation
2V.P. Vykhodtsev Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital, Omsk, Russian Federation
Background: actually, possibilities of tear collection in clinical settings, its composition and diagnostic capabilities are widely studied. A Schirmer's test strip method of tear sampling became the most common. However, this method has some disadvantages. There are a lot of patented methods for tear fluid collection, most of them are time-consuming, require special devices, and cause discomfort in patients.
Aim: to evaluate a new method to collect unstimulated tears in clinical settings.
Materials and Methods: tear sampling was performed in 55 healthy volunteers without a pathology of the anterior segment of the eye. A new proposed method of tear collection with an applicator and the closest analogue (i. e., tear extraction with three filter paper disks) were used. To assess the study tolerability, an original patient questionnaire consisting of 9 questions and 5 objective signs was used. To quantify tears obtained by the two methods, a biochemical analysis was performed to evaluate VEGF-A level.
Results: a subjective assessment of the method was obtained. The applicator method was associated with pre-test apprehension, burning, discomfort, and foreign body feeling during the procedure. More participants experienced redness, dryness, and burning during the disk test. Applicators had an advantage in obtaining consent for a repeat testing. Hyperemia, frequent blinking movements, and reflex tears from the paired eye were more common during the disk test.
The quantity of tears collected with applicators turned out to be sufficient for their quantification. Superior means were demonstrated by the second method (i. e., the disk test). Half of the results showed the same bias indicating the same informative value of the methods, but different values of the norm for them.
Conclusions: There is no single standard method to collect tears for biochemical analysis. The proposed tear sampling method with applicators does not stimulate lacrimation, it is safe, easy-to-use and reproducible. Tear volume obtained by the proposed method proved to be sufficient to evaluate VEGF-A level.
Keywords: tear fluid sampling, Schirmer strips, filter paper, applicators, tear, VEGF, tear collection.
For citation: Matnenko T.Yu., Lebedev O.I., Barinov S.V., Zolotov A.N., Chulovskyi Yu.I., Novikov D.G., Kirichenko N.A., Korobko M.A., Vyhodtseva O.G. A new method to collect unstimulated tears in clinical settings. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2026;26(1):58–64 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2026-26-1-9
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Tatiana Yu. Matnenko — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0003-0859-5435
Oleg I. Lebedev— Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor, Dean of the Faculty of General Medicine, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-8190-4121
Sergei V. Barinov — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-0357-7097
Alexander N. Zolotov — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor, Senior Scientific Officer at the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, Assistant Professor of the Department of Pathophysiology, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-6775-323X
Yurii I. Chulovskyi — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-4806-6880
Dmitryi G. Novikov — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics of Additional Professional Education, Head of the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 000-0002-4339-2222
Nikolay A. Kirichenko — Teaching Assistant at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics of Additional Professional Education, Junior Scientific Officer at the Central Scientific Research Laboratory, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-8411-0973
Maria A. Korobko — Resident of the Department of Ophthalmology, Omsk State Medical University; 12, Lenin str., Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 009-0005-1727-7377
Olga G. Vykhodtseva — Head of Microsurgical Department No. 1, V.P. Vykhodtsev Clinical Ophthalmological Hospital; 60, Lermontov str., Omsk, 644024, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-2871-641X
Financial Disclosure: no authors have a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned.
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 15.04.2025.
Revised 14.05.2025.
Accepted 06.06.2025.
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