A simple, non-invasive technique has been developed for assessment of the stability of the pre-corneal tear film. Changes are observed in the reflection of a grid pattern from the tear film surface. Breaks in the tear film appear as random discontinuities in the grid image. Using this non-invasive technique the stability of the pre-corneal tear film was assessed in nine normal subjects and twelve established dry-eye patients. The non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT) of the dry-eye patients was on average only 25% to 32% of normal values. The non-invasive technique provides an alternative approach to diagnosing non-wetting disorders as well as a means of evaluating the efficacy of artifical tear solutions.