You should call your eye doctor if you have the symptoms of dry eye for more than a few days. During the examination, your doctor will ask about your general health, your use of medications, and your work and home environments to determine the factors that may be contributing to your dry-eye symptoms. This information will help your health practitioner decide whether or not to perform dry-eye tests.
To test for dry eye, your eye care practitioner may use diagnostic instruments that allow a highly magnified view of your eyes or use small strips of paper or thread and special dyes to assess the quantity and quality of the tears.