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InflammaDry is a diagnostic test that can be performed in
your eye doctor’s office to test your tears for the presence
of inflammation. Inflammation may increase as dry eye
progresses into a chronic condition, and if left untreated,
can potentially damage the cells on the surface of your
eye.18 By using the InflammaDry test to determine if there
is an above normal level of inflammation on the surface of
your eye, your eye doctor can determine the best and
most appropriate dry eye treatment plan for you.
Various dry eye disease treatment
plans are available, based on the discretion of your eye
doctor. Typical treatment options may include a combination
of artificial tears, omega-3 supplements, tear duct
plugs, or anti-inflammatory therapies
Using the lnflammaDry test to
determine if inflammation is a factor in your dry eye helps guide our approach
to your treatment. Patients who test positive with
the InflammaDry test have confirmed inflammation and
may benefit from anti-inflammatory therapy. Over time,
as inflammation is reduced by anti-inflammatory therapy,
dry eye symptoms may reduce and the overall health of
the eye may improve.
To perform the InflammaDry test, tears are collected from
your lower eyelids. Each eye requires the use of a separate
InflammaDry test. A small, soft piece of fabric will be gently
dabbed along your lower eyelid to collect tears, very similar
to the way a paper towel absorbs liquid from a surface. The
tear collection process takes less than a minute and is not
painful. Once the tear sample is collected, the InflammaDry
test is activated and results are provided before you leave
your doctor's office. A positive InflammaDry test result
indicates that there is a significant amount of inflammation
on the surface of the eye.
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