Understanding Dry Eye
Find out about what the Tear Film does and the different types of Dry Eye diseases.
There are a number of different causes of dry eye. At Collins Street Optometrists we place a strong emphasis on properly diagnosing why dry eye has developed.
The initial investigation and management of your dry eye issues is usually a two-part process. The starting point is to undergo an initial consultation, tailored to provide us with essential information relating to dry eye. Depending on the outcome of this examination, you will often be provided with initial remedies and treatments in line with the DEWS protocols. Secondly, a review is usually conducted around three months later. This may be a relatively simple follow-up if the initial treatments are working well, or a more comprehensive dry eye assessment may be performed if these treatments have not had the desired effect.
There is considerable variety in the causes and ways that dry eye presents, so the investigative pathway is not always the same. Identifying the type and cause of your dry eye can be a journey, and some journeys are longer than others. The same is true for management.
In performing a comprehensive dry eye assessment, one of the most important tasks is to determine whether the dry eye case is aqueous-deficient (due to low tear volume) or evaporative (due to poor quality tear film), a combination of both, or some other factor such as incomplete blinking. We then investigate further to establish the cause of the low tear volume and/or the poor quality of the tear film.
We rely on several key tests to do this; many of these procedures are performed on the Oculus K5 keratograph. Once these procedures have been completed we are better able to provide a more detailed explanation of the nature and severity of your dry eye condition.
- Symptom Assessment Questionnaires in Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a 12-item questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of ocular irritation consistent with dry eye disease and their impact on vision-related functioning. It provides us with a starting point for assessing the impact dry eye disease may be having on you. Click here to download the OSDI questionnaire. We frequently use the Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionaire, which performs the same function but is simpler to use.
- Tear Meniscus Height
Measuring tear meniscus height is an important part of the dry eye assessment. At Collins Street Optometrists we can assess your tear volume by looking at the height of your tear meniscus. which rests on your lower eyelids. Anything less than 0.2mm is considered to represent a volume deficiency.
A touch free, fully automated illumination and non-glare method is used to measure the height of the tear meniscus. This is important to avoid reflex tearing such as that associated with discomfort, heat and glare. We will use this method to quantify your tear volume and define its characteristics along the lower lid margin.
Frequently we find patients with symptoms of dry eye using drops when tear volume measurement shows they produce enough tears of their own. If anything using these drops just makes their eyes more watery. Should your tear volume be an issue we will consider factors such as whether you have an associated systemic condition, or are taking systemic medications that may cause this. If necessary we will write to your health care practitioner on your behalf explaining the problem. If there are no other associated issues with your tear film, we may insert a punctal plug to block your drainage and allow your natural tears to remain in contact with your eyes for longer.
- Evaluation of the Tear Film Break Up Time (TBUT)
The tear film coats the front surface of the cornea, and the integrity of the cornea depends heavily on the quality of this tear film. Each time you blink you re-coat the corneal surface with a fresh tear film. At Collins Street Optometrists, tear break up time is measured with touch free, fully automated infrared illumination that produces no glare or reflex tearing.
Ideally the tear film should last until the next blink when a new tear film coats the cornea. In other words your tear break up time (TBUT) needs to be longer than the time between blinks. As a guide, TBUT should normally be at least 10-12 seconds; anything less may indicate unsatisfactory tear film quality.
When TBUT is less than the blink rate, the ocular surface is left unprotected. Signs and symptoms of dry eye are exacerbated under these circumstances. If your TBUT is a second less than your blink interval, you will feel discomfort. If your TBUT is regularly two seconds less than your blink interval, your front corneal surface is at more serious risk.
- Lipid Layer Assessment
Evaluation of the lipid layer thickness is essential in managing dry eye because TBUT relies heavily on how much lipid (a type of fat) is in the tear film. If the lipid layer is too thin or absent, the tears will evaporate quickly, resulting in tear film instability and lower tear break up time.
In assessing the lipid layer ideally we see consistent and colourful rainbows – these indicate that the tears have a rich fatty composition.Absence of good quality lipids in the tear film may indicate underlying meibomian gland disease. This is treated by some or all of supplements, meibomian gland scrape, gland expression and relevant eye drops.
- Infrared Meibography
Meibography provides an enhanced view of the meibomian glands; these produce the important lipid layer at the front of the tear film. At Collins Street Optometrists we use the most advanced form of infrared imaging available to check your meibomian gland morphology and density.
Meibomian gland dysfunction is a very common cause of dry eye, and can usually be treated – provided treatment starts early enough. Meibography shows where meibomian glands are blocked and/or have stopped functioning completely. It is possible to unblock meibomian glands and restore normal gland health and function, but left untreated these blockages can eventually lead to irreversible meibomian gland drop-out. It is therefore important to treat meibomian gland disease promptly.
- Ocular Surface Staining
We use specific dyes to detect and highlight any diseased corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. These dyes have the ability to penetrate the walls of compromised surface cells that are dessicated or dying. The two dyes, flourescein and lissamine green, are relatively comfortable in the eye and help us grade the extent of ocular surface disease. Lissamine green tends to be more useful for revealing changes to the conjunctiva, whereas fluorescein is more usually used to stain the cornea.
- Diagnosis and Classification of Dry Eye Disease
Once these procedures have been completed we are usually able to provide a diagnosis and explanation of the nature and severity of your dry eye condition. At this stage we will be able to tell you:
- Whether you have significant dry eye disease and/or whether there is also ocular surface disease and especially ocular surface inflammation;
- If dry eye disease exists, whether the cause is (a) meibomian gland dysfunction, and/or (b) aqueous insufficiency, and/or (c) associated anterior blepharitis;
- Outlining which treatment options are most appropriate for your clinical presentation and explaining the likely costs of each option.
- Fees for Dry Eye Assessment
More About Dry Eyes
Treatment Options for Dry Eye
Learn about the different dry eye treatments that Collins Street Optometrists provides.
Dry Eye Education and Resources
Other links and resources you can use to find out more about Dry Eye diseases.
Other services
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology is a non-surgical process that reshapes the cornea by wearing rigid contact lenses while you sleep.
Co-Management
Co-management may require you to be under ongoing care of a medical specialist and your general medical practitioner.
Myopia Management
Myopia, commonly called short-sightedness makes it difficult to see distant objects clearly. It is a very common condition.
Comprehensive Eye Examinations
Not all eye examinations are the same, and our consultations involve much more than just the prescribing of spectacles or the fitting of contact lenses.
Dry Eye Management
Dry eye disease (DED) is an extremely common eye condition; in today's world it is occuring increasingly more frequently.
