Diagnosis of Dry Eye

Listening to your symptoms and discussing your eye history and overall medical history

Dr. Muller will specifically want to know about the following because they can either cause and/or exacerbate dry eye:

  • How many hours/day you watch television, drive (operate a motor vehicle), read (i.e. your cell phone and other handheld devices, computers, documents, magazines, newspapers, books, etc.)
  • Contact lens wear (hours/day, days/week, etc.)
  • Environmental allergies (such as hay fever, pollen, dust, mold, animals, etc.)
  • Food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances
  • Medications (such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, diuretics, blood pressure medications, etc.)
  • Medical Conditions (such as rosacea, diabetes, collagen vascular, rheumatologic and autoimmune conditions, etc.)
  • Hormonal Changes
  • History of Accutane use, chemotherapy, radiation, etc.

Examining Your Eyes

Dr. Muller will examine your eyes with a microscope. She will use special eye drops and dyes to evaluate the quality and quantity of your tear film specifically looking at the height of your tear meniscus, your tear break up time and the overall health of the surface of your eyes. If you have other ocular conditions such as blepharitis, ocular rosacea, meibomian gland dysfunction, glaucoma, environmental allergies, demodex, etc. they will also be identified so that they can be addressed. There is no discomfort associated with this type of examination.

We now have an objective lab test for measuring dry eye called TearLab

Dr. Muller was one of the first ophthalmologists in New York City to use the most advanced, state-of-the-art, technology to objectively test/measure dry eye. Using lab on a chip technology, the TearLab osmolarity system painlessly measures a small sample of your tears to objectively quantify how dry your eyes are. The ability to measure and quantify tear osmolarity objectively with the TearLab system facilitates the diagnosis, treatment and the management of dry eye.

Evaluating Your Meibomian Glands

Dr. Muller uses state-of-the-art technology to image your meibomian glands to determine if you have meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Learn more here: MGD

Environmental Allergies

Upon examining your eyes with a biomicroscope, if Dr. Muller observes that you may have ocular irritation/inflammation secondary to environmental allergies, you may be offered an allergy test.

Learn more here

Food Allergies, Sensitivities or Intolerances

Likewise, if Dr. Muller suspects you may have food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances causing inflammation in your body, she may recommend food allergy testing.

Learn more here