The tests
What each dry eye test measures
Your doctor picks the tests that fit your symptoms and your history. You may have a few of these, not all six, and the doctor says why before each one.
- A few minutes
Tear breakup time
A drop of dye settles on the eye. You blink, then hold your eyes open while the doctor times how long the tear film stays smooth under a blue light.
Shows how stable the tear film is
A short time can point to thin tears or poor oil
- A minute
Tear osmolarity
A small tip touches the edge of the lid and reads a drop of tears. It measures how concentrated the tears are.
One reading from each eye
Compared between the eyes and over visits
- A few minutes
Eyelid gland imaging
A camera looks at the inside of each eyelid. The picture shows the oil glands that sit in a row along the lid.
Shows open, short or missing glands
Kept so the next visit can be compared
- A few minutes
Surface staining
A dye and a blue light show spots on the front of the eye where the surface is dry or worn.
The dye washes out with blinking
The pattern of spots helps the doctor decide what to do first
- Up to five minutes
Tear volume
The doctor looks at the tear pool along the lid, or places a thin strip at the lid edge for a few minutes.
Measures how much fluid your eyes make
Your eyes may water, which is expected
- A minute
Blink and lid check
The doctor watches you blink, looks at how the lids close and examines the lid edges.
Looks for incomplete blinks
Looks at the lid edges for redness or crusting
At the visit
What happens, in order
1. The assistant takes your history and asks about your contact lenses and what you use at home.
2. The gentlest tests come first, so the dye does not change the others.
3. The doctor reviews every result with you on the screen and says what is normal and what is not.
4. You leave with the plan in writing. The visit takes about an hour.
What to bring and what to expect
Bring your glasses, your contact lens case and a list of the drops you use
Billed to medical insurance for most patients; see how fees work
The doctor who does the tests is one of our four optometrists
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
About the tests
Do the tests hurt?
Most feel like very little: a drop of dye, a bright blue light, a small tip at the lid. Your eyes may water or blur briefly. Tell the assistant at any point if you want to pause.
Will I be told what the numbers mean?
Yes. The doctor goes through each result with you before you leave and gives you a written plan.
Can I drive home?
Yes. The tests do not dilate your eyes. If the doctor does need to dilate them, you are told first and may want someone to drive.
Book a dry eye evaluation
Choose a time online, or call and the front desk finds one with you.