Dry Eye Center · Diagnosis

A better plan starts with a better look at what is happening.

Dry eye is not diagnosed by one symptom or one machine. A useful evaluation combines your history, an eye-health examination, and appropriate testing to identify the contributors that matter in your case.

What an evaluation may include

Testing should answer questions, not simply generate numbers.

History and symptom pattern

The evaluation begins with what you are actually experiencing: when symptoms occur, what makes them better or worse, visual demands, contact-lens use, medications, health history, environment, and prior eye procedures.

Tear-film assessment

The tear film can be evaluated for stability and quality to help determine whether evaporation, reduced tear production, or both may be contributing.

Meibomian-gland assessment

When appropriate, imaging and examination of the eyelid oil glands can help identify blockage, structural changes, or reduced gland function.

Tear breakup time

A tear-breakup assessment can show how long the tear film remains stable on the eye before it begins to break apart.

Ocular-surface staining

Special dyes can highlight areas of the cornea or conjunctiva that are dry, irritated, or otherwise affected.

Additional testing when appropriate

Depending on the presentation, other tests may be used to look at inflammation, tear production, eyelid function, or additional eye-health concerns.

From findings to treatment

The goal is to identify the contributors we can act on.

An evaluation may suggest that symptoms are driven mainly by rapid tear evaporation, reduced tear production, eyelid-gland dysfunction, ocular-surface irritation, inflammation, environmental factors, or a combination of contributors.

Not every patient needs every test. The examination and your history should determine which measurements are useful and which treatment options are reasonable to discuss.

Explore Dry Eye Treatments

A focused dry-eye visit

Bring the whole pattern with you.

It can help to think about when symptoms are worst, which drops or treatments you have already tried, your medications, contact-lens use, screen time, and any prior eye procedures. Those details can be just as important as the testing itself.

Request a Dry Eye Evaluation