Dry Eye Testing and Diagnosis

Most patients know when they are suffering from dry eye disease, but professional testing is still necessary to determine the best course of action for dry eye treatment. Mild and severe dry eyes respond differently to medical care. The same treatment may relieve one person’s chronic dry eye syndrome but exacerbate another person's condition. The first step toward relief is finding a doctor who specializes in the condition and is qualified to make a dry eye diagnosis.

Dry Eye Testing Methods

When symptoms of dry eye become apparent, ophthalmologists may use several dry eye testing methods to find the root of the problem and prescribe effective treatment. It is possible that the eye produces too few tears, but in many cases the problem is not a lack of tear production but rather the composition of the tear film.

Measuring Tear Production

Two tests which have been developed to test tear production and tear film are the Schirmer test and dye testing. The Schirmer test measures the rate of tear production. Dye testing measures the strength of your tear film. Tear film with an abnormal composition will break up more rapidly, resulting in a dry feeling. Your dry eye specialist will be able to make a dry eye diagnosis from the results of one or both of these tests.

Schirmer Test

One way a dry eye diagnosis can be made is by measuring the amount of tears the eyes produce. For a Schirmer test, your doctor uses a paper filter to measure the quantity of your tears to determine if your tear production is abnormally low. A tiny strip of paper is placed beneath your eye for five minutes while you look forward and blink normally. If few tears are produced, you may have severe dry eyes. If enough tears are produced, yet you still feel your eyes are uncomfortable and dry, it is likely you have a mild case of dry eyes. The Schirmer method of dry eye testing is more effective in the diagnosis of severe dry eyes rather than mild or moderate dry eyes.

Dye Testing

Sometimes chronic dry eye syndrome is not caused by a lack of tears, but by faulty tear film that evaporates and breaks up instead of holding together to lubricate the eye, as healthy tears do. This kind of dry eye is measured with dye testing. Fluorescein and Rose Bengal are two types of dye commonly used. In fluorescein dry eye testing, a strip of fluorescein is applied to the lower eyelid and removed. The doctor will ask you to blink so that the fluorescein disperses, coloring the tear film on the outside of your eye blue. A cobalt blue filtered light enables the doctor to see how quickly the tear film breaks up. From this data, the doctor will discern whether your dry eye symptoms are mild or severe. Rose Bengal is another safe dye doctors typically use to diagnose dry eye disease. Rose Bengal temporarily stains cells on the eye that are inadequately covered by tear film. This test reveals the degree of dry eye and is especially useful for testing mild dry eyes.

Mild vs. Severe Dry Eyes

Those who suffer from dry eye disease may have mild or serious symptoms. The wide range of symptom severity can be attributed to the multiple causes of dry eyes. It is important to determine if you have mild or severe dry eyes because treatment is based on the nature of your symptoms.

Contact lenses and other eye irritants can disrupt tear film production in the eye and result in mild dry eyes. You might have mild dry eyes if your eyes are frequently irritated by smoke, wind, or contact lenses. You may find that your eyes are sensitive to light and quickly become fatigued while reading. Treatment may be as simple as changing your contact lens cleaning solution. For most patients, demulcent drops (artificial tears) are used to lubricate the eyes throughout the day and effectively relieve the symptoms of dry eye disease.

If your persistent dry eye symptoms do not respond to artificial tears, you may have chronic dry eye syndrome, also commonly known as serious or severe dry eye. A serious dry eye condition may cause your eyes to burn, sting, and itch, affecting your ability to see. Left untreated, severe dry eyes can result in an inability to keep the eyes open, eye inflammation, corneal infection, and scarring. It is important to treat a serious dry eye condition as soon as possible. A prescription dry eye medication and even dry eye surgery may be necessary to prevent the eyes from becoming permanently damaged.

Locate a Dry Eye Disease Specialist through DocShop

Finding a doctor who specializes in dry eye testing and diagnosis is the first step toward relieving the irritation you feel. Find a certified dry eye specialist in your area to determine whether you have mild or severe dry eyes. A capable doctor with experience in treating dry eye disease can diagnose and manage eyelid problems contributing to your symptoms, explain how to maintain ocular comfort with artificial tears, and suggest methods to conserve your natural tears. There is no reason to live with the serious discomfort of chronic dry eye syndrome. If you feel discomfort because of dry eyes, contact a physician.