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How does the diagnosis "dry eyes" arise?
Millions of people have already been diagnosed with dry eyes by their ophthalmologist. In order to test the lubrication of the eye surface, the ophthalmologist has various methods and techniques at his disposal, such as slit lamp, Schirmer test and special dyes.
Dry Eyes How the ophthalmologist makes the diagnosis
Burning, reddening and swelling of the eyes already suggest that the eyes are too dry and are therefore causing discomfort. To confirm this, the ophthalmologist examines the eyes with a slit lamp that magnifies the eye and makes possible irritations and inflammations visible. To measure the tear film break-up time, the ophthalmologist can stain the tear fluid with a fluorescent dye. The patient must not blink during this process, because this is the only way the doctor can see how quickly tears form in the tear film. The so-called Schirmer test, in which small filter paper strips are clamped into the lower conjunctival sac, shows the amount of tear fluid. The staining of dead cells of the cornea and conjunctiva can also provide an indication of a wetting disorder.
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