Dry eye syndrome - Diagnosing dry eye syndrome
- Introduction
- Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
- Causes of dry eye syndrome
- Diagnosing dry eye syndrome
- Treating dry eye syndrome
- Self-help advice for dry eye syndrome
- Complications of dry eye syndrome
Your GP should be able to diagnose dry eye syndrome based on your symptoms and medical history. They may also examine you to check for other conditions and complications.
Your GP may want to know about:
- any medicines that you are taking
- what activities you do regularly – for example, if you work on a computer all day
- whether you have any other symptoms (that may not be affecting your eyes)
These may help your GP identify a possible cause of your dry eye syndrome.
Referral to a specialist
Your GP may refer you to an optometrist for a check-up. Optometrists are trained to recognise sight defects and eye conditions. Although your GP may refer you to an optometrist, they are private practitioners and charge for their services.
Your optometrist can examine your eye and confirm whether you have dry eye syndrome and any other associated conditions and complications. They will also advise about treatment.
If the diagnosis is uncertain or specialist tests and treatment are needed, your GP or optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists are surgeons who specialise in eye conditions. Like optometrists, they use special equipment and techniques to examine the eye.
Two of the main tests carried out to check for signs of dry eye syndrome are described below.
Fluorescein dye test
During a fluorescein dye test, eye drops containing a special yellow-orange dye are used so your specialist can see your tears more clearly. This helps them find out how long it takes for your eye to start drying out. The dye is only temporary and will not change the colour of your eye.
Once the drops are in your eye, you'll be asked to blink a few times and then keep your eyes open without blinking. Your specialist then uses a special light to see the dye and times how long it takes for a dry patch to appear.
If the patches begin to appear in less than ten seconds, this usually means you have dry eye syndrome.
If there is damage to the surface of the eye, the fluorescein dye test may also highlight the affected areas.
The Schirmer's test
During the Schirmer's test, small strips of blotting paper are hooked over your lower eyelid. After five minutes, the strips are removed and studied to determine how wet the paper is. If the paper has wetted less than 10mm in five minutes, this indicates dry eye syndrome.
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