What is the Seidel test?

• A. A test for glaucoma
• B. A test to detect perforation or leak in the globe using stain with visible vertical clearing
• C. A test to evaluate tear production
• D. A test to assess corneal clarity

Answer: (B)

The Seidel test is used to detect leakage from the anterior chamber through a corneal or scleral wound. It relies on applying fluorescein dye to the ocular surface and looking for dilution of the dye caused by aqueous humor escaping through a wound. Under cobalt blue light, leakage creates a vertical streak where the fluorescein is washed away by the leaking fluid, producing a visible clearing in the stained area. A positive sign means there is perforation or a leak in the globe, which is why this test is especially important after ocular trauma. It is not a test for glaucoma, tear production, or general corneal clarity—those involve tonometry, tear film assessment, or corneal staining patterns unrelated to detecting active leakage from the eye’s interior.