Medical and Dry Eye Exam in Lake Worth
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Medical and Dry Eye Exam
When your tears are unable to lubricate your eyes adequately, you may have a condition known as Dry Eye Disease. There are many factors why tears may be insufficient and unstable. For instance, dry eyes may develop if your fluid production is inadequate or of poor quality. The instability of the tears causes inflammation and surface injury to the eye.
Dry eyes create an unpleasant sensation that may include burning and pain. These symptoms may be more pronounced if you are on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, riding a bicycle, or after staring at a computer screen for a while.
Dry Eye Treatments can help. Changes in lifestyle and eye drops are examples of these therapies used to treat Dry Eye Disease. In order to manage the symptoms of dry eyes, you will need to follow the prescribed care for your lifetime.
Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease
If you consistently experience the following symptoms of Dry Eye Disease, reach out to Dr. Baker at Brightside Eye Care to schedule an exam. Relief is possible!
- Redness
- Burning, stinging, or itching sensations
- Light sensitivity
- Feeling like something is in your eye
- Stringy mucus around the edges of your eye
- Vision seems blurred
- Uncomfortable wearing contacts
- Eyes seem to water to try to fix the sensation
Testing for Dry Eye Disease
Dr. Baker can do tests to see if your eyes are making enough tears. If the tests show you have dry eye, she can recommend treatment. One or more of the following tests may be completed to determine if you have developed Dry Eye Disease:
- Slit lamp test
Your eye specialist will perform a slit lamp test to determine whether or not your eyes are producing enough tears. They will first put a drop in your eye that will make it easier to see your tears. Then, the optometrist will peer at your eye and eyelids under a microscope while shining a thin, bright light into your eye. - Schirmer’s Test
Your eye specialist can determine if your eyes are producing enough tears with a Schirmer test as well. To numb your eye, your eye specialist will administer eye drops. They will ask you to close your eyes for five minutes after placing a tiny piece of paper on the edge of your eyelid. Your doctor will check the paper’s moisture content (wetness) after 5 minutes.
- Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT)
The duration of your tear film, or coating of tears on your eyes, after you blink, is measured by a TBUT test. You will be asked to blink so that the dye completely covers your eye after your eye doctor injects a small quantity of dye into your eye. You’ll then maintain a straight-ahead gaze without blinking or eye movement. The length of time the colored tear film covers your entire eye will be observed by your eye specialist. You might have Dry Eye Disease if your tear layer does not last for a long time.
Treatment for Dry Eye Disease
Our therapies are continually updated at Bright Side Eyecare so that we can assist every patient who enters our doors. We are informed about the subject of dry eye disease and want your eyes to be comfortable and healthy.
Regular use of over-the-counter eye drops, also known as artificial tears, is sufficient for the majority of individuals with occasional or mild dry eye symptoms. You have other choices if your symptoms are severe and persistent. What you should do will depend on the reason for your dry eyes.
A disease or physical condition causing your dry eyes may be reversed or managed as part of some treatments. Other therapies can enhance the quality of your tears or prevent them from evaporating too rapidly.
