The power of osmolarity testing in the palm of your hand.
An automated handheld pen that collects and analyzes a single tear sample and reports a quantitative osmolarity value in seconds. Objective tear film data, at the start of the exam, to aid in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.
Key takeaways
- Dry Eye Rescue is the exclusive distributor of the ScoutPro Osmolarity System, with Bausch + Lomb continuing direct sales.
- ScoutPro is a handheld pen that collects and analyzes one tear sample and shows a mOsm/L result on its screen in seconds.
- Dry Eye Rescue recommends using it as a fast, objective first screen for any patient with dry eye signs or symptoms, to help decide whether a fuller workup is warranted.
- It tests on a 50 nanoliter sample, reads even very dry eyes, and recalls your last two results.
- It is CLIA waived and billed under CPT 83861. Each site needs a CLIA Certificate of Waiver before testing.
- Order the device, test cards, and control solutions in the same cart as the products you already buy from DER.
- DER provides CLIA setup help and support for adding osmolarity to your dry eye workflow.
The ScoutPro Osmolarity System is an automated device from Bausch + Lomb that quantitatively measures the osmolarity of human tears to aid in the diagnosis of dry eye disease, used alongside other clinical evaluation. Higher osmolarity signals a saltier, less stable tear film. An objective value early in the visit helps your team identify ocular surface disease, set treatment baselines, and inform surgical refractive planning.
Why we treat osmolarity as an essential first screen
At Dry Eye Rescue, we treat tear osmolarity as a fast, objective screen at the front of the dry eye workup, and we recommend running it on any patient who reports symptoms or shows signs of ocular surface disease. The number gives your team an early, repeatable read on tear film stability and helps you decide whether a fuller workup and treatment are warranted, so the right patients move forward instead of being missed.
Our recommendation is consistent with TFOS DEWS II, which calls for testing for a loss of tear film homeostasis, including osmolarity, in patients who screen positive for dry eye symptoms (Wolffsohn 2017). Osmolarity aids diagnosis and is read alongside symptoms, staining, and lid findings. It supports clinical judgment rather than replacing it.
When we recommend testing
- Any patient who screens positive on a dry eye symptom questionnaire.
- Contact lens wearers and patients with surface complaints, where disease is easy to miss.
- Before keratometry and biometry for cataract or refractive surgery.
- At follow-up, to track whether treatment is stabilizing the tear film.
Exclusive distribution, end-to-end support
Dry Eye Rescue has expanded its partnership with Bausch + Lomb to become the exclusive distributor of the ScoutPro Osmolarity System. This builds on years of work across the over-the-counter and prescription lines practices already order from DER, and adds diagnostics to the catalog.
Order the device, osmolarity test cards, and control solutions in one cart with everything else, plus the hands-on help to get the test live in your practice.
What you get with DER
- Device, test cards, and control solutions in the same cart as 1,000 plus products you already buy.
- Hands-on help obtaining your CLIA Certificate of Waiver.
- Support building osmolarity into your dry eye protocol and everyday workflow.
- Fast fulfillment from the Boca Raton facility, with free shipping over 250 dollars.
Impact of osmolarity on the ocular surface
Tear hyperosmolarity is toxic to the ocular surface. It damages corneal cells and contributes to refractive instability, and it sits at the center of the dry eye disease cycle described by TFOS DEWS. TFOS DEWS II defines dry eye disease as a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, with tear film instability and hyperosmolarity among the core mechanisms. Osmolarity gives that mechanism a measurable value.
Up to 80 percent of cataract surgery patients may be at risk for ocular surface disease, often without symptoms.
Cataract patients with hyperosmolarity risk a greater than 1.0 D swing in keratometry, raising the chance of a refractive surprise.
More patients may be dissatisfied with cataract surgery outcomes when tear hyperosmolarity is present.
Hyperosmolarity has been shown to create intraocular light scatter equivalent to a grade 2 to 3 cataract.
A value at or above 308 mOsm/L, or a difference greater than 8 mOsm/L between the two eyes, is commonly used as a signal of an unstable, hyperosmolar tear film. Read the number with the symptom questionnaire, staining, and lid findings, not on its own. The ASCRS Cornea Clinical Committee recommends preoperative tear osmolarity testing to identify visually significant ocular surface disease before cataract and refractive surgery (Lemp 2011; Wolffsohn 2017; Starr 2019).
The first and only osmolarity system that is portable, practical, and precise
- Integrated collection and analysisSpecimen collection and analysis happen within the single ScoutPro pen.
- Result in seconds, with memoryThe screen displays the osmolarity value in seconds and stores prior test results.
- Rechargeable, all-day penRechargeable AAA batteries in the pen hold a charge for about 8 hours.
- Small-footprint charging baseThe base has a small footprint with an optional wall mount.
- TearLab card compatibilityTest cards are interchangeable with the first-generation TearLab Osmolarity System.
Collection and analysis in one
- Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip test card.
- Innovative card design collects tears from the driest patients.
- Nanoliter volume collection by any eye care professional.
- An integrated tip thermometer holds test performance as office temperature varies.
Streamlined, end to end
- No docking. Analyze the sample in the pen.
- Real-time results on the pen display in seconds.
- Recall up to two prior test results.
- Small footprint with a wall-mount option.
Trusted lab precision
- 1.5 percent coefficient of variation for tear osmolarity.
- 95 percent analytical accuracy compared with a standard laboratory osmometer.
- Backed by the testing heritage of more than 24 million osmolarity tests.
Coefficient of variation
Tear osmolarity, references 7 to 9. Cholesterol, reference 10. Blood glucose, reference 11.
Lower variation than common point-of-care tests
At a 1.5 percent coefficient of variation, tear osmolarity testing is more consistent than routine cholesterol and blood glucose point-of-care tests.
Proven analytical accuracy
ScoutPro shows 95 percent analytical accuracy compared with a standard laboratory osmometer (Instructions for Use).
A test your team can run in minutes
Collection is fast and technician friendly. The tip draws a tiny tear sample from the lower lid margin, and the result appears on the pen.
Osmolarity is the tear film step in the DER Practice Playbook
The Dry Eye Rescue Practice Playbook runs a simple chair-side sequence: questionnaire, then objective testing, then same-day treatment. Osmolarity is the tear film measurement in that sequence, and the Playbook names ScoutPro for it. A trained technician runs the screen, so the doctor is not the bottleneck.
Questionnaire
A symptom screen at check-in cues the team to begin objective testing.
SPEED / DEQInflammation
InflammaDry detects elevated MMP-9 at the point of care.
CPT 83516Tear film: osmolarity
ScoutPro reads osmolarity. A high value or an inter-eye difference guides the plan.
CPT 83861Surface and glands
Vital dyes, lid margin assessment, and meibography complete the picture.
Treat same dayBuilt to fit a busy clinic day
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Billing code | CLIA waived, reimbursable under CPT 83861, subject to payer coverage |
| Site requirement | A CLIA Certificate of Waiver is required before testing begins |
| Who runs it | A trained technician collects and tests, with results the doctor interprets |
| Footprint | Counter-top charging base with an optional wall mount |
| Quality system | Developed and manufactured under an ISO 13485 certified quality system |
| Consumables | Osmolarity test cards and control solutions are ordered separately |
Verify current reimbursement, coding, and CLIA requirements for your state and payers before billing. Coverage and amounts vary.
One source for dry eye, now with diagnostics
The same single-cart wholesale platform your practice already uses, with the support to make a new test routine.
- Exclusive distributor of the ScoutPro Osmolarity System
- Test cards and control solutions reorder in the same cart
- Hands-on CLIA and workflow setup support
- Fast fulfillment with free shipping over 250 dollars
- Trusted by thousands of eye care professionals
Single source
Diagnostics next to the dry eye products you already order.
Simple to order
Free FedEx Ground shipping on orders over 250 dollars.
Competitive pricing
No hidden fees, with volume discounts over 10 units.
No minimums
Free membership and no minimum order required.
Shop the device and reorder test cards
Buy the ScoutPro Osmolarity System and restock single-use test cards from the same cart as the rest of your dry eye supplies.
ScoutPro Osmolarity System
The handheld pen and charging base. CLIA waived and billed under CPT 83861. Rx only.
Shop the deviceRx only. Free shipping over 250 dollars.
ScoutPro Osmolarity Test Cards
Reorder the single-use osmolarity test cards. Interchangeable with first-generation TearLab cards.
Shop test cardsSingle-use consumable. Reorder anytime.
Control solutions are also available on the wholesale platform. Free shipping over 250 dollars.
Test before drops, and read both eyes
Collect the sample before any eye drops, anesthetic, dilating drops, staining, or a slit lamp exam, since each can change the reading. We also recommend testing both eyes. In our clinical view, a meaningful difference between the two eyes can be as telling as a single high number, because tear film instability often shows up as asymmetry first.
Indications and Important Safety Information
Indications
The ScoutPro Osmolarity System is an automated device intended to quantitatively measure the osmolarity of human tears to aid in the diagnosis of dry eye disease, in patients suspected of having dry eye disease, in conjunction with other methods of clinical evaluation. It is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
Contraindications and collection rules
- Do not collect tear fluid within two hours of medicinal eye drops or topical medications.
- Do not collect within 15 minutes of anesthetic or dilating drops, after ocular surface staining, after a slit lamp exam, after other invasive ocular diagnostic testing, or from a patient who has been crying.
- Do not collect or store tear samples for transport or testing at a later time.
The ScoutPro is a CLIA waived test system for human tears. Each laboratory or testing site must hold a CLIA Certificate of Waiver before testing. This summary is not complete. Refer to the User Manual for the full list of indications, contraindications, precautions, and use information. Full Indications and Important Safety Information are available at bauschsurgical.com/safety.
Rx only. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.Balanced view. Osmolarity is one objective input. Single readings can vary with hydration, environment, and collection technique, so it is most useful as part of a structured workup and tracked over time rather than read in isolation. Confirm findings with the full clinical picture.
Get ScoutPro into your practice
ScoutPro, osmolarity test cards, and control solutions are available through the Dry Eye Rescue wholesale platform. Schedule a call to order, request a demo, or get hands-on help with CLIA and workflow setup.
Common questions from practices
What does the ScoutPro Osmolarity System measure?
It quantitatively measures the osmolarity of a tear sample in milliosmoles per liter. A higher value reflects a saltier, less stable tear film, which helps identify and grade dry eye disease alongside other findings.
Is Dry Eye Rescue the only place to buy ScoutPro?
Dry Eye Rescue is the exclusive distributor of ScoutPro. Bausch + Lomb continues to sell the device directly. Through DER you can also order the test cards and control solutions in the same cart as your other supplies.
How is ScoutPro different from a TearLab system?
ScoutPro combines tear collection and analysis in one handheld pen, with the result shown on the pen and no need to dock it. Its test cards are interchangeable with the first-generation TearLab Osmolarity System, so an existing workflow does not change.
How small is the sample, and will it work on very dry eyes?
The test uses a very small 50 nanoliter sample. The card design is built to collect tears even from the driest patients.
How precise is the test?
Tear osmolarity testing has a 1.5 percent coefficient of variation, lower than routine cholesterol and blood glucose point-of-care tests, and ScoutPro shows 95 percent analytical accuracy compared with a standard laboratory osmometer.
Is osmolarity testing reimbursable?
ScoutPro is CLIA waived and reimbursable under CPT 83861, subject to payer coverage. Your site must hold a CLIA Certificate of Waiver before testing.
Who in the office can run the test?
A trained technician can collect and run the test. In the DER Practice Playbook this is the practice Champion, who handles objective testing while the doctor interprets results and directs treatment.
When should we collect the sample?
Collect before drops, anesthetic, dilating drops, staining, or a slit lamp exam, since each can change the reading. Test both eyes so any inter-eye difference is part of your read.
How do we get ScoutPro and pricing for our practice?
ScoutPro is available now through Dry Eye Rescue. Schedule a Zoom call with Ryan Grant, Head of Sales, or call him at (561) 867-0131 to order and get pricing, a demo, and CLIA and workflow setup. For CLIA or customer service questions, email Jake@dryeyerescue.com. You can also speak with your Bausch + Lomb representative.
Put a number on tear film health
Add objective osmolarity testing to your dry eye workup with ScoutPro, available through Dry Eye Rescue.
References
- Huet E, et al. Am J Pathol. 2011;179(3):1278-1286.
- Epitropoulos AT, et al. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2015;41(8):1672-1677.
- Sullivan BD, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:2419-2426.
- Wolffsohn JS, et al. TFOS DEWS II Diagnostic Methodology Report. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):539-574.
- Gupta PK, et al. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2018;44(9):1090-1096.
- ScoutPro Osmolarity System. Instructions for Use.
- FDA CDRH. TearLab Osmolarity System 510(k) K083184 approval and summary. 2009.
- Nolfi J, Caffery B. Clin Ophthalmol. 2017;11:945-950.
- Rocha G, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2017;11:243-248.
- Pluddemann A, et al. Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(596):e224-e226.
- Tonyushkina K, et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2009;3(4):971-980.
- Craig JP, et al. TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):276-283.
- Lemp MA, et al. Am J Ophthalmol. 2011;151(5):792-798.
- Starr CE, et al. ASCRS preoperative ocular surface disease algorithm. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019;45(5):669-684.
- Kursite A, Laganovska G. J Ophthalmol (Ukraine). 2023;2(511):11-15.
- Artal P, et al. PLoS One. 2011;6(2):e16823.
ScoutPro is a trademark of Bausch + Lomb Americas Inc. TearLab is a trademark of its respective owner. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The ScoutPro Osmolarity System is available to qualified eye care practices through Dry Eye Rescue as the exclusive distributor. This page is intended for eye care professionals.