Got Dry Eyes This Winter? Here’s How TearLab® Dry Eye Testing Can Help

Dry eyes are a common complaint during the colder months, especially with harsh winds and dry indoor heating. At Southside Eye Care in Chesapeake, VA, our experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists use the advanced TearLab® Osmolarity System to measure the amount of salt in your tears (salt concentration or osmolarity). This quick and non-invasive test helps identify imbalances in your tear film, a common cause of dry eye disease.

By providing precise data, TearLab helps determine the severity of your condition and guides our team in tailoring the right treatment for you.

Why Winter Worsens Dry Eye Symptoms

Winter conditions can significantly impact your eye health, particularly if you’re prone to dryness. Common seasonal culprits include:

• Cold Winds: Harsh outdoor air strips moisture from your eyes.
• Dry Indoor Heating: Heaters lower humidity, causing tears to evaporate more quickly.
• Increased Screen Time: Longer indoor hours often lead to excessive screen use, reducing blinking.

These factors make winter an ideal time to evaluate your eye health and seek solutions.

Benefits of TearLab Testing

TearLab offers several advantages in managing dry eye disease:

Quick and Easy

The TearLab test takes just minutes and uses a small sample of your tears. We need less than 50 nanoliters (nL) of tear fluid to diagnose and categorize dry eye disease. That’s so little that the tear sample isn’t visible to the naked eye!

Our team collects the tear sample using a special treatment device that’s shaped like a pen. You tilt your head back, look up, and blink several times when we ask you to. We use the slender pen to collect the tiny tear sample from the area along your lower eyelid. It’s a painless and quick process.

Accurate Diagnosis

TearLab testing can help us determine whether your dry eye disease is caused by evaporation, inflammation, or other issues. Based on positive test values, TearLab accurately predicts nearly 90% of dry eye disease cases.

Personalized Treatment

Results help us recommend targeted solutions like artificial tears, prescription drops, changing your contacts, punctal plugs, or other treatments.

Prevention of Complications

Early detection of dry eye disease prevents long-term cornea damage, like infections and scarring.

Convenient TearLab Testing in Chesapeake, VA

Call Southside Eye Care at 757-484-0101 to schedule a consultation for TearLab testing. We’re here for comprehensive eye exams, advanced dry eye disease management, laser vision correction, and all your vision needs in one convenient place.