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Common Tests for Diagnosing Dry Eye Disease

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If you think you have dry eye, you are going to need to see anoptometrist in Jesup, GA, to diagnose and confirm it for you. And if you do have it, you are going to want some relief…right? An optometrist will go through the following steps to determine if you have dry eye disease.

Medical History Review

Your optometrist will ask you to answer some questions about your medical history. And they are going to want to learn about your symptoms, too. You can expect a lengthy list of questions that will help your optometrist understand your history.

Initial Eye Exam

At your initialdry eye exam in Jesup, GA, your optometrist will look for signs of dry eye. They will also look for other possible causes of your symptoms as well. After that, they will look to see how healthy your tear film is. The tear film consists of the three layers of tears covering your cornea. And finally, they will do some testing.

Tests Used to Diagnose Dry Eye Disease

  • Slit Lamp Exam – This test checks the amount of tears your eyes are making. They will shine a light into your eyes and use a microscope to examine your eyelids and eyes.
  • Schirmer’s Test – This one is an additional test that checks your tear production. The eye doctor will put a small piece of paper along the edge of your eyelid for a few minutes to check your tear response.
  • Tear Breakup Time Test (TBUT) – This test checks to see how quickly the tears in your eyes evaporate. The eye doctor will put some dye into your eye. They will then use a microscope to see how long it takes the tear film to break up.

Looking for an Optometrist in Jesup, GA?

Dry eye isn’t fun. And it’s so uncomfortable for most people, who just want to scratch their eyes out. But it doesn’t have to be that way. PleaseContact Vision Source Signature Eye Care today. We want to help you get some relief.

6 Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

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Dry eye syndrome affects people from all backgrounds. Yet, of the millions of people afflicted with dry eye syndrome, many of them have no idea what actually caused the condition to develop. If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, you can get treatment from your eye doctor in Jesus, GA. In the meantime, learn more about the six common causes of dry eye syndrome.

1. Smoking

Smoking irritates the eyes and has been shown to be a contributing factor to dry eye syndrome. Smoking also has a tendency to dry out the eyes, as well as mucous membranes. This is one reason why smokers often get more respiratory illnesses and have bad breath from a lack of saliva.

2. Insufficient Blinking

People blink at different rates, and it’s been discovered that those who blink less have a higher incidence of developing dry eye syndrome. Interestingly, when people look at screens, they tend to blink less frequently. Therefore, the use of screens is also a factor that can cause dry eye syndrome.

3. Previous Eye Surgery

If you’ve undergone eye surgery in the past, such as for glaucoma, LASIK, cataracts, or something else, you will have a heightened risk for dry eye syndrome. This is due to how surgery can affect the function of tear glands.

4. Allergies

Allergy sufferers often have dry eye syndrome, simply because their eyes become irritated in the presence of certain allergens. In a case like this, treating the underlying allergy may alleviate the dry eye symptoms.

5. Overuse of Eye Drops

Over-the-counter eye drops are okay for temporary use over a short period of time. But many people overuse them, thinking that they are helping with dry eyes. In reality, it may actually be the eye drops that are causing dry eyes, creating a vicious circle of overuse of eye drops, which exacerbates the condition.

6. Physical Abnormality

There may be a physical reason why the tear glands are not functioning as they should. In cases like this, corrective surgery may resolve the dry eyes syndrome.

If you suffer from dry eyes in Jesus, GA, contact Vision Source for an appointment. We offer diagnostics and treatment for dry eye syndrome for patients in our offices in Jesup, Brunswick, and St. Mary’s, GA.