Dry eye is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients. It occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough tears or the consistency of those tears is inadequate to properly lubricate the eye. Symptoms of dry eye include: a stinging, burning sensation in the eye, general eye discomfort, excess tearing, light sensitivity, itching, redness, blurred vision and sometimes pain.

Understanding the root cause of dry eye is critical in helping ease or eliminate symptoms of dry eye. A new technological advancement known as TearLab makes diagnosing dry eye more accurate and more efficient than ever before.

TearLab is the first objective and quantitative test for diagnosing and managing dry eye patients. The TearLab Osmolarity System* is intended to measure the osmolarity of human tears to aid in the diagnosis of dry eye disease in patients suspected of having dry eye disease, in conjunction with other methods of clinical evaluation.

Potential causes of dry eye range from easy to eliminate chronic issues that demand ongoing care to some prescription medications, hormone therapy, pregnancy, contact lenses and a host of other issues that can cause dry eye symptoms. In some cases, patients suffer from dry eye disease, requiring specific care to reduce symptoms.

This is where TearLab comes in. This new diagnostic tool allows us to quickly and accurately measure the consistency of tears, in turn, enabling us to more readily and accurately diagnose dry eye disease so proper management can begin.

TearLab’s breakthrough technology allows us to collect tear samples and test them using a specialized test card. The readings provided enable us to discern almost immediately if a patient’s tears are within the normal consistency range or if consistency demonstrates mild, moderate or severe dry eye.

You don’t have to suffer from the symptoms of dry eye. The key to alleviating your aggravating and even painful symptoms, however, lies in determining the severity and cause of your dry eye and to assess how well your eye condition is responding to treatment. TearLab helps us accomplish this quickly.

To learn more about dry eye diagnosis and treatment at The Eye Center, click here.