There is a significant number of factors that can contribute to dry eye disease. Identifying exacerbating factors will help in forming your dry eye treatment plan. Factors may include those in the environment such as air conditioning, your current medications that may be affecting tear production, your vocation such as computer use, and any coexisting medical conditions that are associated with an increased risk of dry eye.

This will involve tests specifically to assess your type and degree of dry eye, and is likely to be quite different from other eye exams you’ve had in the past. Your ophthalmologist may instill certain diagnostic dyes into the eye to visualise areas of dryness or damaged cells; you may have an assessment of tear production with the insertion of short strings or strips of paper over your eyelids; the doctor may also assess the position and function of your eyelids as these are important for the production and retention of tears. There may also be certain devices used to assess your tear quality and stability.

Some of the most effective treatments for dry eye must be conducted in the clinic with a trained specialist while other remedies can be safely done at home. Depending on your type and severity of dry eye, your eye doctor will recommend one treatment over another, and will likely suggest several treatments to use together. There will also be a discussion around lifestyle or environmental modifications you can make to improve your dry eye.