Help diagnoise my eye condition :(

[want_answers]

Hello,
I went to a new opthalmologist today and was told that I had 'relative dry eye'. Because he found my aqueous tears(through schrimmers test) normal and my TBUT was normal too.
I was told to blink more often when doing work that required concentration.
That's like coming back to square one and not knowing what either the cause of the problem is, or the cure. I have sufferred enuf to know that being advised to blink and take breaks while working isnt going to solve my problem.

I was told that my lid margins are fine and are not blocked.Warm compresses dont seem to help me much.I currently use optive and find some relief with respect to pain around my eye sockets.
But I feel that optive has left me with a dryer sensation in my eye..not too sure about this though.


How does one diagnose for sure as to where I have an aqueous deficient eye or MGD or if it is some other problem? My throid/autoimmune/hormone tests are all normal.

[dianat]

Do you have any corneal staining? Any signs of allergies?

[brd888]

I was told to blink more often when doing work that required concentration.

Hello,
Yeah rubbish isnt it? If blinking more often helped then why would you need to visit and ophthalmologist?
Have you considered seeing an Optometrist specialising in dry eye? They would have the latest equipment. Ophthalmologists in my opinion are more concerned with the internal components of the eye - not external (corneal disease).
If you read Dr Latkany's stuff on here he has a simple test to determine your dry eye. It involves keeping eyes open while reading - if the tear film breaks you will see blurred words.
One simple test to determine if you have aqueous deficient or MGD is to find out if you have lots of fluid there - is there a meniscus at your eyelid? Can you cry? MGD is more common than aqueous deficiency?
Bruce

[GinaJ]

I am not sure but I have very sensitive eyes and perservative drops bother me so I can only do the free ones. Are you wearing contacts? Not sure if you had lasik if you are wearing contacts I would stop and see. Can you describe more the feeling and symptoms in your eye or if they look different?