Since its introduction by Schirmer in 1903, the Schirmer test has been widely used for the assessment of the adequacy of tear production. Although the faults of the Schirmer test have been well documented, it is nevertheless still being used to assess tear production, especially in the diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and for screening potential contact lens wearers. We summarize the findings and conclusions of some of the previous studies.