Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment

We offer dry eye diagnosis and treatment at both our Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations. Because dry eye is related to age, medication usage, tear film and tear composition, treatment is often multi-faceted.  It can include adding supplements into your routine, improved lid hygiene and tear preservation therapies.  Your best first step is to schedule a dry-eye evaluation with any of our ophthalmologists or optometrists.

How is Dry Eye Syndrome Diagnosed?

Dry eye syndrome is an ocular surface disease that can affect a patient’s quality of vision and overall ocular comfort. A comprehensive eye exam can help determine whether the symptoms that you are experiencing are related to dry eyes. There are other tools available to help diagnose and treat this common condition.

With the help of the TearLab Osmolarity test we are now able to grade the severity of a patient’s dry eye. The TearLab is performed by collecting a minute sample of your tears. The sample is smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. It is collected by placing the tip of a small device right on the edge of your eyelid.  This collection process is painless and takes only seconds to perform. The sample is then tested and the salt content in the patient’s tear is determined.

The video below demonstrates how the test is performed:

Ask us about the TearLab Osmolarity Test System at your next office visit. 

How is Dry Eye Treated?

Eye drops formulated to mimic your natural tears may be used to lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture. These are available without a prescription. There are also prescription eye drops available.  In more severe cases, autologous serum tears may be recommended. These are drops that are formulated by extracting the serum in a patient’s blood. The components of these tears are natural and similar to those in a patient’s natural tear, making them very safe to use.

Another method includes the conservation of tears. Tears drain out of the eye through a small channel into the nose. It is possible to close those channels either temporarily or permanently helping conserve your own tears and make artificial tears last longer.

Dry eye disease is treatable and you don’t need to suffer. If you have been diagnosed with dry eyes or if you are concerned you may have dry eyes, please schedule an appointment to discuss your options with one of our doctors.