Lipid layerThe oily seal.
Helps reduce evaporation and supports stability. Made by the meibomian glands along your eyelids.
What the world can look like
through an unstable tear film.
Why eyes go dry
Each layer of the tear film is crucial.
If one or more layers isn’t working as it should, you can experience dry eye.
Mucoaqueous tearsThe watery body.
Hydrate, lubricate and protect. This is the bulk of your tears — water and dissolved mucins working as one gel.
Mucins & glycocalyxThe anchor.
Help the tear film interact with the ocular surface, gripping it so tears spread evenly with every blink.
Ocular surfaceWhat tears protect.
Beneath your tears is the ocular surface — the living cells your tear film hydrates and defends.
Healthy surface
A healthy surface is smooth, intact and well protected.
Surface disruption
In dry eye, the surface can become disrupted and rough. Punctate epithelial erosions (PEE) may be present.
What this means
Dry eye can involve changes to the tear film, the ocular surface, or both.
Understand dry eye.
Find the right care.
We're creating a clearer path to
dry eye care for every Australian.
Find dry eye care near you.
Search Australia’s directory of clinics and practitioners dedicated to dry eye care.
Comprehensive dry eye care follows four stages of treatment.
Assess, diagnose, treat, maintain. This is what each stage involves, and what a clinic in the directory should walk you through.
01 — Assess
A full dry eye workup
Meibography and imaging can document your meibomian glands. Tear break-up time, Schirmer's test, lid margins, tear meniscus height, ocular surface damage and allergies are all assessed. A standard eye examination may not be equipped to perform a dry eye workup.
The assessment
02 — Diagnose
Investigating your subtype
The tests and lines of questioning decide which subtype you have. Two people with identical symptoms can need different treatments.
The diagnosis
03 — Treat
The right treatment for the cause
Certain treatments are offered for certain subtypes and causes. Sometimes using the wrong treatment, or the wrong product, can make it worse.
In-clinic treatment
04 — Maintain
Maintaining relief
Best practices, exercises and routines, supplements and periodic examination all help manage symptoms of pain and discomfort.
Ongoing care
Dry eye, made clearer.
Practical guides, research updates and new treatment information — without the noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.