Dry Eye Treatment
A dry eye treatment plan usually consists of a series of evaluations designed to determine the cause of dry eyes. This can involve refractive surgery such as LASIK or laser eye surgery, or can involve alternative treatments such as changing eye wear, using artificial tears, drops in your eye drops, or other therapies such as acupuncture. If you are seeking evaluation for dry eye treatment, here are some things to know and remember about dry eye testing. By being informed about what to expect during a dry eye examination, you will be better prepared to make an informed decision about your eye care.
When CorneaCare dry eye evaluation is requested by a family practitioner or Optometrist, the primary objective is to detect potential dry eye disease. An evaluation will also look for signs of inflammation, which can be indicative of other problems, such as sinus infection or cataracts. In addition, a dry eye exam will take an impression of the front part of the eye, called the cornea, and look for redness, irritation, or swelling. The Rift-Vulcanizing Potential (RVP) is also measured during this examination. The goal of this exam is to rule out the presence of glaucoma and macular degeneration, which is common in people over age 60, as well as to discover any retinal detachment that may occur without causing vision loss.
When dry eye evaluation doctor may request a photoepilation examination, which is called a dry eye examination of the iris. During this process, the eye doctor will shine a light directly into the eye, or may use a light emitting diode (LED) or infrared light, to produce a red thread on the surface of the eye. The iris will dilate slightly when exposed to the light. Any red thread should not be confused with a raised scar on the cornea.
During your dry eye evaluation, the eye doctor may use a standard computerized speed questionnaire to rate the patient's eyes at various distances. This is called a vision questionnaire and is completed in one to two hours. This questionnaire is designed to record responses to questions concerning vision quality, such as sharpness, color vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. Additional questions may include information about where the patient sees objects and whether the test affects movement, whether the test affects objects the patient can see, and which factors cause the greatest difficulty. Most speed questionnaire tests are between fifteen and twenty questions long. The speed questionnaire is normally taken in the office of the ophthalmologist. Find out some more facts about eye care through https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5-ways-to-keep-your-eyes-_b_10382678.
The ophthalmologist will use the speed questionnaire results to determine whether refractive eye surgery is indicated, as will the results of any test that the ophthalmologist might conduct. If these results suggest that myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism might be present, additional tests will be ordered. These may include the use of a refraction examination or optometric examination, which involves the use of an ophthalmoscope. A visual field test may be conducted, also, to see if the vision quality meets the minimum acceptable level for each eye. If so, then further testing may be indicated.
A dry eye doctor may suggest the patient take daily medication, as prescribed by the ophthalmology office. The medications might be in the form of drops, lozenges, or sprays. The medication may be to keep the inflammation in the eye under control. The medication, if given for a long enough period of time, should reduce the inflammation enough that the eye can be used comfortably, without discomfort, by the patient who has dry eye disease.
How a Dry Eye Evaluation Works
If you wear contacts, then a dry eye exam will be necessary. A dry eye exam is performed in order to determine if there are any tears in the eye or if there are any issues with the lubrication of the eye. A dry eye evaluation typically includes extensive ophthalmic testing of the eye's tear film as well as microscopic examination of structures that create the three layers of the normal tear layer. The Rift Keratometer is used to test tear flow, tear integrity, and eyelid gland size and structure. This exam is usually done on an outpatient basis.
To receive a dry eye evaluation at https://community.mycorneacare.com, you will be required to answer a series of questions prior to the exam. After the evaluation, a physician will write an evaluation and treatment plan. A patient's case history is critical to the treatment process. It is also important to note that in order to receive a proper diagnosis, a patient must provide detailed information and documentation of symptoms and findings. This documentation can include such things as a detailed case history, photographs, prescription and nonprescription medications taken, and ophthalmological findings.
A patient's case history is critical to the dry eye evaluation because it allows a physician to assess which diagnostic tests need to be conducted first and which may be conducted later. The most common diagnostic test that is performed during this evaluation is an optical nerve conduction study (ONCS). The purpose of this test is to detect retinal detachment due to disease or trauma. Two risks factors that may be present are retinal detachment and inflammation. In a case history, the physician will be able to further describe which symptoms cause these two risks factors. The physician should record the use and duration of each drug as well as details about the eye drops and application used. See this company for more info!
In some cases, the dry eye evaluation will include a procedure known as corneal suction. In this procedure, the physician inserts a hand saw into the patient's eye to simultaneously slice open the cornea and treat the dry eye disease from the inside. The slit is then sealed with a small rubber band. After the procedure, a prescription for artificial tears is provided to the patient.
A dry eye evaluation may also include a procedure called "rose bengal" or "lissamine green." During this procedure, tiny amounts of a special form of artificial tears called polysorbate are injected into the patient's eye to replace the tears that are missing due to dry eye disease. Rose bengal is often used to treat patients who suffer from redness, itching, and decreased vision as a result of dry eye disease. One eye is usually injected with enough amount of the dry solution to last the patient 8 hours. A different eye is not injected with the dry solution until it has completely healed. Be sure to watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUzMnehn8Lw for more info about eye care.
Either procedure may be used to treat the underlying cause of dryness in the eye, but more testing and possibly even surgery may be needed to pinpoint which specific cause of dryness needs treatment. For example, if the eyelids are too dry due to diminished lubrication or inflammation, medication for these issues will be prescribed along with an artificial tear solution. If the redness, itching, and decreased vision are due to irritation of the ocular surface, laser technology may be used to treat these symptoms. As in any medical condition, a patient should be sure to discuss their particular case with a qualified professional before opting for any treatment.
How a Dry Eye Evaluation Works
If you wear contacts, then a dry eye exam will be necessary. A dry eye exam is performed in order to determine if there are any tears in the eye or if there are any issues with the lubrication of the eye. A dry eye evaluation typically includes extensive ophthalmic testing of the eye's tear film as well as microscopic examination of structures that create the three layers of the normal tear layer. The Rift Keratometer is used to test tear flow, tear integrity, and eyelid gland size and structure. This exam is usually done on an outpatient basis.
To receive a dry eye evaluation at https://community.mycorneacare.com, you will be required to answer a series of questions prior to the exam. After the evaluation, a physician will write an evaluation and treatment plan. A patient's case history is critical to the treatment process. It is also important to note that in order to receive a proper diagnosis, a patient must provide detailed information and documentation of symptoms and findings. This documentation can include such things as a detailed case history, photographs, prescription and nonprescription medications taken, and ophthalmological findings.
A patient's case history is critical to the dry eye evaluation because it allows a physician to assess which diagnostic tests need to be conducted first and which may be conducted later. The most common diagnostic test that is performed during this evaluation is an optical nerve conduction study (ONCS). The purpose of this test is to detect retinal detachment due to disease or trauma. Two risks factors that may be present are retinal detachment and inflammation. In a case history, the physician will be able to further describe which symptoms cause these two risks factors. The physician should record the use and duration of each drug as well as details about the eye drops and application used. See this company for more info!
In some cases, the dry eye evaluation will include a procedure known as corneal suction. In this procedure, the physician inserts a hand saw into the patient's eye to simultaneously slice open the cornea and treat the dry eye disease from the inside. The slit is then sealed with a small rubber band. After the procedure, a prescription for artificial tears is provided to the patient.
A dry eye evaluation may also include a procedure called "rose bengal" or "lissamine green." During this procedure, tiny amounts of a special form of artificial tears called polysorbate are injected into the patient's eye to replace the tears that are missing due to dry eye disease. Rose bengal is often used to treat patients who suffer from redness, itching, and decreased vision as a result of dry eye disease. One eye is usually injected with enough amount of the dry solution to last the patient 8 hours. A different eye is not injected with the dry solution until it has completely healed. Be sure to watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUzMnehn8Lw for more info about eye care.
Either procedure may be used to treat the underlying cause of dryness in the eye, but more testing and possibly even surgery may be needed to pinpoint which specific cause of dryness needs treatment. For example, if the eyelids are too dry due to diminished lubrication or inflammation, medication for these issues will be prescribed along with an artificial tear solution. If the redness, itching, and decreased vision are due to irritation of the ocular surface, laser technology may be used to treat these symptoms. As in any medical condition, a patient should be sure to discuss their particular case with a qualified professional before opting for any treatment.
