Associated Conditions Systemic Diseases Any disease, environmental factor, or medicine that can alter the composition of the tear film can lead to dry eyes. Some systemic conditions that can cause dry eye symptoms in patients are: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, Graves’ Disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, antigen or autoimmune disorders, and a variety of other … Continued
Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) The test contains only five questions, making it one of the quickest to complete and grade. The survey asks patients to rate the severity of eye discomfort, dryness and wateriness they experience over the last month. The survey contains less than half the questions of the OSDI, but has shown to … Continued
Surveys There are various surveys that have been studied to help quantify a patient’s symptoms. This is helpful in the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome and also in the management of the condition. The following are examples of surveys that are used clinically. Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) The SPEED test is a … Continued
Rose Bengal 17 Rose Bengal is a red dye that can effectively stain degenerated epithelial cells and outline cells that are damaged. Often used to diagnose keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and other conditions associated with dry eye, the desquamated cells will clearly show on the conjunctiva as brown spots. The green filter and high magnification levels … Continued
Exam Testing Visual Acuity Transient visual blurring that clears upon blinking can be caused by dry eyes. Corneal edema can also be caused by dry eye syndrome, resulting in visual changes. The resultant steepening of the corneal curve can cause transient myopia. Another disturbance to visual acuity is caused by excessive mucin production that can … Continued
The Tear Film To better understand dry eye syndrome, it is necessary to fully understand all the components of the tear film and an efficient anatomical blink. The tear is essential to the health and function of the eye. It consists of three layers, the mucin layer, the aqueous layer, and the lipid layer. The … Continued
Course Introduction What is Dry Eye Syndrome? Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eye cannot produce a sufficient quantity of tears or when the tear quality is abnormal. Dry eye syndrome can cause discomfortable, can restrict many activities, can lead to repeated infections, or can damage the underlying cornea resulting in vision loss. According to … Continued
Onboarding: Training for Eye Care Professionals Glossary ABBE Value: Measures the dispersion of light through a lens material, indicating how well it reduces chromatic aberration. A higher Abbe value means less color distortion and clearer vision Abduction: The movement of the eye outward, away from the nose ABO exam: Certification exam administered by the … Continued
Tear Film The tear film provides a smooth and transparent refractive surface, essential moisture, and oxygen to the epithelial cells. The tear layer also contains proteins which help protect against infection. The health of the ocular surface is entirely dependent upon an adequate quantity and quality of tear film, both of which can be altered … Continued
Pre-Existing Factors and Post-Wear Complications Many tests conducted during the evaluation and initial fitting of a contact lens patient might point to pre‐existing conditions that can be exacerbated by contact lens wear. Sometimes conditions or complications are only revealed after contact lenses have been worn for some period of time. Many clinicians will simply refuse … Continued
Lids Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) Giant papillary conjunctivitis is a common complication among contact lens wearers. It is an inflammation of the tissue called the tarsal conjunctiva, which is located underneath the upper lid. The inflammation is diagnosed by the appearance of large swollen processes which make the tarsal conjunctiva appear to be covered with … Continued