Test Time: Slit-lamp examination

We use a microscope call a slit-lamp to examine the eye. We are looking to see first how dry the eye is – using the Tear Break Up Time but also looking to see if there are any signs of inflammation of the eye, redness, swelling and the presence of little bumps on the lids called papillae that indicate an immune response. We also examine the Meibomian glands to see if they are expressing normally or are blocked. The examination can also help us determine if the eye is closing at night while sleeping or if the lids are closing correctly when blinking.

What do all the tests we do mean? 
At the Dry Eye Centre we do a battery of tests to diagnose your dry eye, including: LipiView, Meibography, InflammaDry, Schirmers test, Meibomium gland evaluator, Slitlamp bio-microscopy. Interested in an initial assessment to identify what treatment would be right for your Dry Eye? Book an appointment with us today.

Photo: Shutterstock

Test Time: What is Schirmers Test?

What is Schirmers test?
Schirmers test is old fashioned but still the gold standard way to measure the production of the watery layer of the tears (aqueous) by the eye. In this test we apply an anaesthetic drop and place a strip of special paper into the gap between the lower lid and the eye. We then wait five minutes then measure the length of the paper that has become wet. A measurement of less than 10mm in five minutes indicates that the eye is producing too little of the watery layer. We call this aqueous dry eye.

What do all the tests we do mean? 
At the Dry Eye Centre we do a battery of tests to diagnose your dry eye, including: LipiView, Meibography, InflammaDry, Schirmers test, Meibomium gland evaluator, Slitlamp bio-microscopy. Interested in an initial assessment to identify what treatment would be right for your Dry Eye? Book an appointment with us today.

Test Time: What is Meibography?

The Meibomian glands produce the oily layer of the tears. The openings of the glands run along the upper and lower lids. The glands themselves run perpendicular to the lid margins up into the lid. When there is inflammation or blockage of the glands they can atrophy and die away. Once atrophied they can not produce as much meibum. Meibography allows us to image the glands to see if they have been damaged. It gives a good indication of the potential of recovery from Meibomian gland dysfunction.

What do all the tests we do mean? 
At the Dry Eye Centre we do a battery of tests to diagnose your dry eye, including: LipiView, Meibography, InflammaDry, Schirmers test, Meibomium gland evaluator, Slitlamp bio-microscopy. Interested in an initial assessment to identify what treatment would be right for your Dry Eye? Book an appointment with us today.

Test Time: Tear Break Up Time

Tear Break Up Time is not related to relationships ending

What is Tear Break Up Time?
Every time we blink the lid spreads the tears across the surface of the eye. The tear film then stays there to protect the eye. After a certain time the lipid layer breaks up and the tears start to evaporate leaving parts of the eye not covered by tears. In a normal eye this should take around 10 seconds. In dry eye the tears can break up within a second, leading to dry patches. To measure this we put a little bit of a dye called sodium fluorescein into the eye which stains the tears. Then we watch through a microscope to see how long the tears take to break up.

What do all the tests we do mean? 
At the Dry Eye Centre we do a battery of tests to diagnose your dry eye, including: LipiView, Meibography, InflammaDry, Schirmers test, Meibomium gland evaluator, Slitlamp bio-microscopy. Interested in an initial assessment to identify what treatment would be right for your Dry Eye? Book an appointment with us today.

Photo: Shutterstock