Dry Eye Clinic

1. Initial Consultation and History Review The process begins with a consultation where the optometrist or specialist at Boatmans Optical will ask about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and any factors that could contribute to your dry eyes. This includes information such as:

• Duration and severity of symptoms (e.g., burning, itching, redness, or blurred vision).
• Medications you may be
• Environmental factors that may be aggravating your condition (e.g., screen time, air conditioning, or smoke).
• Any existing eye conditions or health issues (e.g., autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome).

This step helps to provide a baseline understanding of your condition before the diagnostic

2. Tear Film Quality Assessment (via IDRA)
The core of the IDRA system is its ability to assess the tear film, which is crucial in understanding how well your eyes are lubricated. The assessment checks the following:

• Tear Breakup Time (TBUT): This test measures the time it takes for the tear film to break up on the surface of your A shorter TBUT indicates unstable tear film and can point to conditions like evaporative dry eye.
• Tear Volume: The IDRA system uses advanced imaging techniques to evaluate the volume of tears on the surface of the eye. Low tear volume can be indicative of aqueous-deficient dry eye.
• Surface Interference: The IDRA can assess for surface irregularities caused by insufficient It helps to detect any signs of damage to the eye's surface due to dryness.

3. Meibomian Gland Assessment (via IDRA)
The meibomian glands are located in your eyelids and produce the oils necessary to prevent the rapid evaporation of tears. If these glands are not functioning properly (due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD), it can lead to evaporative dry eye.
IDRA uses a specialized imaging technique to:

• Examine the meibomian glands to check for blockages, gland loss, or reduced
• Evaluate the quality of the oil produced by the glands to see if it is of the proper consistency for tear film stability.

4. Osmolarity Testing (via IDRA)
IDRA also evaluates the osmolarity of your tears, which refers to the concentration of dissolved substances in the tear film. Increased osmolarity can be a sign of inflammation in the eye and is often associated with dry eye disease. This test helps identify:

• Inflammation in the tear film and ocular
• Whether aqueous-deficient or evaporative dry eye is contributing to your

5. Blink and Lid Function Analysis
IDRA can assess your blinking pattern and eyelid function. Inadequate blinking or incomplete eyelid closure can lead to inadequate tear spread over the ocular surface, resulting in dry eye symptoms. The system helps evaluate:

• Blink rate: How frequently you blink, especially in response to screen use or
• Lid closure: How effectively your eyelids close during blinking, ensuring proper tear

6. Personalized Treatment Plan
Based on the results from the IDRA assessment, our experts at Boatmans Optical will develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific condition. This may include a combination of:

• Lifestyle adjustments: Recommendations regarding hydration, environmental factors, and screen time.
• Therapeutic treatments: Including TearStim to stimulate tear production or the Activa Heat Mask to address meibomian gland dysfunction.
• Medications or supplements: Such as anti-inflammatory drops or omega-3 fatty acids to improve tear production and reduce inflammation.
• Follow-up Care: Regular monitoring to track your progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.