What can I expect from a Tear Clinic appointment?
A visit to the Brownbills Tear Clinic starts with an initial assessment with one of our specialist Optometrists. At this very first appointment, your specialist Optometrist will have an in-depth conversation with you and help you to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms.
They will take a tiny sample of your tears using the TearLab technology. This is an advanced technology that assists in the diagnosis of dry eye by giving an objective measurement of the health and stability of your tear film.
A thorough examination of your eyes (eyelids, tear film, ocular surface) will be undertaken, which will include the use of ophthalmic dyes. This allows the Optometrist to best establish the cause of your dry eye disease.
At the end of your initial assessment in the Tear Clinic, your specialist Optometrist will fully explain their findings and, using the data and information collected, develop a proposed management plan to help with your dry eye symptoms. This also gives a perfect opportunity to ask any questions and discuss your needs with both the Optometrist and the Optical Assistant.
A follow up appointment is generally advised a few weeks after your initial assessment. At this appointment you, together with your Optometrist, will complete a further questionnaire and a second TearLab reading will be taken. These allow the effectiveness of the treatment and management plan to be measured.
Following this, your Optometrist will complete another ocular examination and a BlephEx procedure may be advised and performed. This procedure cleans the eyelids and is a highly effective way of treating Blepharitis.
Further appointments after this are normally recommended every six months.
