What Type of Dry Eye Do You Have?

Are you having issues with your eyes? If so, you might have dry eye. Your optometrist in Elkridge, MD, can perform a quick exam and make a diagnosis. Wouldn’t it be great to get your eyes back on track?

What Type of Dry Eye Do You Have?

There are three types of dry eye. Let’s take a look at them.

• Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye – This is when your eyes don’t make enough tears.
• Evaporative Dry Eye – This is when the tears in your eyes evaporate too quickly.
• Mixed Dry Eye – This is when people have an aqueous tear deficiency and tear instability at the same time. Both of these lead to having dry eye symptoms.

Now, let’s talk about how your optometrist will determine if you have dry eye.

How Do Optometrists Test for Dry Eye?

Your optometrist will perform one or perhaps all of the following tests to determine if you have dry eye.

• Slit Lamp Exam – This is the test that checks the amount of tears your eyes are producing.
• Schirmer’s Test – This is a test that uses a thin piece of paper placed on the ledge of your eyelid. The paper is left in place for a few minutes. When finished, the paper will be examined to see how much of the paper was covered in tears within that amount of time.
• Tear Breakup Time (TBUT) Test – This test tracks how long it takes for your tears to evaporate. Your optometrist will put a drop of dye into your eyes. A microscope is then used to see how long your tear film remains stable.

If it’s determined you have dry eye, your optometrist will develop a dry eye treatment in Elkridge, MD, for you.

Are You Looking for an Exceptional Optometrist in Elkridge, MD?

If you’ve noticed something’s not quite right with your eyes, please Contact Dr. Jan Eye Care today. We will take a look at your eyes and symptoms and provide you with a treatment that will help you get your eyes back on track.