Dry as a Desert - Part 2 of a Series
When we talk about evaluating dry eye, it might seem like a straightforward process—like you tell us your eyes are dry, and we hand you some drops, right? Not quite. Dry eye can be caused by various factors, and finding the root cause can feel like solving a mystery. But don’t worry; we’re here to guide you through the process and share what Dr. Gohel does to get to the bottom of your symptoms.
First, during your pre-testing, we’ll take a closer look at your meibomian glands, which play a key role in keeping your eyes moist. These glands line the edges of your eyelids and produce the oily layer of your tear film. We’ll grade the health of these glands on a scale from 0 to 4, giving us valuable insight into how well they’re functioning. We utlize the Phoenix Meibography tool to obtain our results and this technology allows us to create a dry eye summary for our patients. When more advanced assessments are required, this technology allows us to examine our patients in a much more in-depth manner.
When you meet with Dr. Gohel, she’ll ask about your personal experience with dry eyes. For example, do your eyes feel worse in the morning or evening? How long can you comfortably wear contact lenses before you need to take them out due to dryness? Are you currently using any treatments for your symptoms? She’ll also review your medications to see if any of them could be contributing to your dry eye.
Next, Dr. Gohel will examine your eyes using a slit lamp, which allows her to see your eye and tear film up close. She often uses a special dye called fluorescein to highlight the amount of tears you have and how quickly they evaporate. She’ll also observe your blinks—do your eyelids fully close with each blink, or do they stop halfway? Blinking is essential for spreading tears across your eyes, so if your blink isn’t complete, your eyes might not be getting the hydration they need. Dr. Gohel will also check for something called lagophthalmos, which is when your eyelids don’t fully close when you sleep. This can lead to your eyes drying out overnight, causing significant discomfort.
In addition to these checks, Dr. Gohel will look at the redness of your conjunctiva and the health of your eyelids. Conditions like chronic blepharitis can cause dry, irritated eyes and require treatment not just for the surface of the eye, but for the lids and lashes as well.
As you can see, a dry eye evaluation is a detailed process that requires careful attention to identify the root cause. With all the information we gather, we can help you find the right solution and get you on the path to lasting relief.
