Dry eye is a common condition affecting millions every day. It occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when tears are not the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly.
At Florida Eye Specialists, we use the latest technology to diagnose dry eye and identify its underlying causes. We carefully examine your eyelids and the front surface of the eye to assess the quality of your tears.
Do You Experience Any of These Symptoms?
Dry eye can present in different ways. If you regularly notice any of the following symptoms, a dry eye evaluation can help pinpoint the root cause.
Blurring of vision that comes and goes
Foreign body sensation (scratchy feeling)
Excessive tearing
Burning
Redness
Itching
Eye fatigue
Light sensitivity
Stringy mucus
Two Primary Forms of Dry Eye
Your tear film is composed of three components: oil, water, and mucus. An imbalance in any of these can lead to dry eye. There are two main forms of dry eye:
Type 1: Aqueous Deficient
The eyes don’t produce enough tears — specifically, the watery (aqueous) layer. Without enough fluid to bathe the front surface of the eye, dryness and irritation develop quickly. This type is often linked to underlying systemic conditions, which is why comprehensive testing is essential.
⚠ May be associated with autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s Syndrome, Lupus, or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Type 2: Evaporative
The oil (lipid) layer that prevents tear evaporation is deficient. Tears dry up faster than usual, leading to symptoms even when tear volume is adequate. The root cause is typically Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Small glands lining your eyelids produce the oil and mucus in your tears. Over time, these glands can become clogged, preventing oils from mixing with the tear film.
💡 This is the most common form of dry eye — and highly treatable when diagnosed correctly.
Dry Eye Contributing Factors
Dry eye rarely has a single cause. Identifying your specific contributors allows us to create a treatment plan that targets the source of your discomfort.
- Medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestants, tranquilizers, blood pressure medicines, birth control pills, and antidepressants
- Diseases of the glands in the eyelids, such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
- Pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy (women)
- Following refractive surgery such as LASIK
- Allergies
- Infrequent blinking, associated with staring at a computer or video screens
- Immune system disorders such as Sjogren’s Syndrome, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Thyroid disease, when the eye protrudes forward, or after cosmetic surgery, if the eyes are opened too widely
- Blepharitis, bacterial or demodex
Your Dry Eye Evaluation
Effective treatment starts by identifying and addressing the root cause. Your dry eye evaluation may include:
- SPEED questionnaire – allows us to assess your symptoms subjectively
- TearLab – assesses the osmolarity of your tears
- Inflammadry – tests for inflammation in your tears
- Keratograph – measures a variety of factors, including:
- Non-Invasive Tear Break Up Time – tracks the evaporation of your tears across your cornea
- Tear Meniscus – measures the amount of tears accumulating on the front surface
- Meibography – gives a visual of your Meibomian glands to see how many are still present
- Bulbar redness – allows us to quantify the amount of redness in your conjunctiva
- Lipiview
- Allows us to visualize the oil layer of your tears
- Allows us to observe your natural blinking
- Slit Lamp Evaluation – we use special dyes (sodium fluorescein and lissamine green) to assess the cornea and conjunctiva fully
- Meibomian Gland Evaluator – we will express the glands of the eyelids to observe what comes out of your glands
Your doctor may order additional testing if they suspect underlying issues. They may order blood work to screen for an autoimmune condition called Sjogren’s. They may also recommend allergy testing, which is available at all of our locations.
Ready to Find Lasting Relief?
Florida Eye Specialists is proud to offer a full-service Dry Eye Center at our San Marco location. Request an appointment today.
