Advanced Eye Care Technology: TearLab Osmolarity System

Diagnosing dry eye has long been a challenge by the world of optometry. The problem is many patients suffer from different symptoms and the methods are not objective enough to give a reliable diagnosis. The TearLab Osmolarity System is a new type of testing that may be able to provide the objectivity and quantitative results eye doctors in Conshohocken, PA, have been searching for.

The History

To really understand the system, you have to first look at the history. Osmolarity is a term used to describe the measurement of solid particles in a solution, which in this case is a person’s tears. Dry eye is often caused by hyperosmolarity, or too many solid particles and not enough liquid. Typically, osmolarity in Conshohocken is tested through three different methods:

• Electrical Impedance: This method measures osmolarity by looking at the electrical conductivity of fluids.
• Freezing Point Depression: This method quickly cools the sample in order to compare its freezing point to the known standards of liquids and solutions.
• Vapor Pressure: This method measures the difference between the vapor pressure of the patient’s tears and the vapor pressure of water to determine the osmolarity level.

These methods allow optometrists to better understand your surface eye health, but they are not necessarily the best.

The Test

The TearLab Osmolarity System provides a point-of-care lab test that is accurate and easy for your eye doctor to use. This system measures a patient’s osmolarity level through a temperature-corrected impedance measurement. During a Conshohocken eye exam, your doctor may collect tears from your eyelid margin with the Osmolarity Test Card if you are showing signs of dry eye disease. The results will then be given in a quantified way that is easy for the doctor to analyze.

Talk With Your Doctor

If you think you may suffer from dry eye disease, talk with your eye doctor today. Not all eye doctors in Conshohocken, PA, will have this test available. It is an advanced eye care technology that can be used to give a more accurate diagnosis related to dry eye disease.