What Is Dry Eye and Should You Be Concerned?

Are your eyes dry and uncomfortable to the point of making you miserable? If so, you might have a condition called dry eye. Your optometrist in New Albany, MS, can give you an exam and let you know if you do, in fact, have this condition and explain how they can help. But until then, here is what you need to know.

What Is Dry Eye?

Your eyes have three layers of tears that help protect them. Dry eye is a condition that negatively affects those tear film layers. There are different types of dry eye. Your eyes might not produce enough tears, your tears evaporate too quickly, or both.

How Dry Eye Is Diagnosed

Your optometrist will perform a comprehensive dry eye exam in New Albany, MS, and measure your tear production using one or more tests that measure the volume and quality of your tears.

Common Tests Used to Diagnose Dry Eye

There are three common tests used to diagnose dry eye.

1. Schirmer Tear Test

The Schirmer test involves placing a small piece of paper along the edge of your eyelids. After a few minutes, your optometrist will measure your tear production by examining how much of that paper is covered in tears.

2. Slit Lamp Exam

The Slit lamp exam involves shining a light into your eyes and then examining your eyes and eyelids using a microscope.

3. Tear Breakup Time (TBUT) Test

The TBUT test involves checking how quickly your tears evaporate. Your optometrist will put some dye into your eyes and will then use a microscope to see how long your tear film remains before it breaks up. The next step in this test involves measuring the time between your last blink and how quickly the first dry area of your cornea appears.

How to Treat Dry Eye

There are a variety of treatments for dry eye. Your optometrist might prescribe you some dry eye medications to reduce your eyelid inflammation and control cornea inflammation. There are also tear-stimulating medicines that help increase tear production. You might also be prescribed autologous blood serum drops if your eyes don’t respond to the other dry eye medicines. Just recently, the FDA approved a new prescription nasal spray that increases tear production.

There are also procedures your optometrist can perform to relieve your dry eye condition.

• Eye Inserts
• Closing Your Tear Ducts
• Unblocking Oil Glands
• Light Therapy and Eyelid Massage Technique
• Special Contact Lenses

Are You Looking for a Reputable Optometrist in New Albany, MS?

If you think you might have dry eye, please Contact Weeden Eye Clinic today to schedule a comprehensive dry eye exam. The quicker you get a diagnosis, the quicker you will get some relief.