Tear secretion rates measured by Schirmer test No. 1 were studied in three groups, group 1 comprising 26 diabetics without autonomic neuropathy, group 2 comprising 26 diabetics with autonomic neuropathy (according to Wheeler & Watkins 1973; Hilsted & Jensen 1979). Group 3 comprised 32 non-diabetic controls. No significant difference in tear secretion was found between the three groups. The interindividual variation in tear secretion was of the same order in the three groups. Significantly greater right-left eye difference (P less than 0.05) was found in the controls as compared to the diabetic groups between which no difference was found.