Tear
Clinic
Do you ever suffer from red, watery, scratchy or dry eyes?
At Brownbills Optometrists, we’re proud to offer patients access to our designated Tear Clinic which could give you the help you need. Launched in 2016, The Brownbills Tear Clinic is a specialist eye care service designed to diagnose and manage ocular surface disease, relieving dry eye symptoms and preventing long-term complications.
What is Ocular Surface Disease?
Ocular surface disease is a multi-factorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. It affects a significant number or people but is largely undiagnosed and untreated. Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial in preventing progressive and possibly permanent damage to the eyes.
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.
Symptoms to look out for:
- Dandruff around the eyelids
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Fluctuations in vision
- Burning or gritty sensation in the eyes
- Sore, red or inflamed eyelids
- Contact lens discomfort
- Eyelids that are difficult to open in the mornings
- Watery eyes
Are you suffering from dry eye?
Arrange your next appointment with Brownbills today

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