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Can an Optometrist give me the Schirmer eye test and the slit-lamp test? Or is that only something an opthomologist can do?

Can an optometrist find out if you have dry eyes(or Sjogren's)? Do they do the Schirmer's test and slit-lamp test? Or is that only something an opthomologist can figure out- both questions? I am going to the Optometrist in a couple days and I asked the secretary if the optometrist knew how to test for Sjogren's and if she would and she said no she does not. Can any optometrists test for this or is this just something opthomologists do? I can't believe she can't test for this to see if my eyes are dry or not... I feel like I'm not going to get anywhere with this apt except to get a script for glasses which is the least of my concerns. I want to know if I have Sjogren's or dry eyes!
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471161 tn?1317190950
I understand you wanting to have something postive to back up how you are feeling but it would be better if you didn't have Sjogrens.  But I truly understand needing to see it in writing and be able to say, "See I am sick.  It is not in my head".  But when you really get that dx. it doesn't feel so good either.  Usually when blood work comes into an office and you have an appt. set up I think most doctors but it in your file if they know you have an upcoming appt. unless of course it would be life threatening which this would not be.  My doctor had my blood work for several days before my appt. this week.  If it will make you feel better go get a copy of it.  If it says you are negative then great but still go to the Opthamologist.  If it says you are positive then you have your confirmation.  Finding out is always difficult.  I, myself am very confused by the new way they are doing ANA tests and wish I could find someone to explain it to me where it makes sense.  Let me know how it comes out.  You can PM me anytime you want to talk too.
God Bless,
Joni
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I didn't know how long it would take to get the blood test results back. I guess I just thought they'd call me and tell me if any of the blood work was positive. Do they normally do that if it is positive or do they not? I will call and ask if it it ready and if I can pick it up, because I guess it wouldn't be good enough if I just asked if anything was positive would it?I'm just worried I won't show anything positive in blood work, but still may have Sjogren's anyways(since blood work isn't always positive in people who have it). I just wish I'd get some definitive answers/test results of some kind and I really wish it'd be in my blood so I wouldn't have to go to the opthomologist again.
Helpful - 0
471161 tn?1317190950
If I were you I would call the doctor that did the blood work and ask them to fax it to you.  my doctor does that all the time.  If they won't fax it because of HIPA then ask them if you can go by and pick up a copy of the results.  If it is positive then I would go see an Opthamologist but that's just me.  Eyes are not something I would put off.  Plus i like to know my blood work without having to wait that long.
Good luck,
Joni
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went to the optometrist today and she did the slit-lamp test and also put some dye in my eye that she said would show if I had dry spots in/on my eye(Don't know what test that is or what it's called I mean). She said it didn't show signs of dryness with that test. However, she said my symptoms sounded like dry-eye symptoms so she told me to use artificial tears a few times a day. She didn't do the Schirmer's test cause she said she doesn't do that test. Even though that dye/slit-lamp test didn't show that I had dry spots in eyes, can I still have dry eyes? Can this be negative and I still have dry eyes since I have the symptoms of dry eyes? I mean, could this test be negative, but maybe I could have a positive Schirmer's test if I were given that test? I just know I have dry eyes because I have all the dry-eyes symptoms and my eyes are killing me! When any of you were dx with dry eyes, which eye test confirmed it?Did you ever have any negative test results?

Also, I went to the Rheumatologist last Monday(a wk and a half ago) and got the blood tests that test for Sjogren's but I haven't heard back about the results yet. I don't go back for 5 more weeks to him. I hope I don't have to wait til then to know the results. He didn't even look at my mouth or eyes though to see if I looked like I had Sjogren's. I actually went for Fibromyalgia, so I didnt' even tell him all my Sjogren-like symptoms and I never told him that I think I have Sjogren's. He just ordered those blood tests, he didn't order any more tests and now I wish he would.
Helpful - 0
471161 tn?1317190950
Have you had a blood test performed for sjogrens?  Your doctor can do that.
You don't have to have the eye test.
Joni
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't think the dry eye test is that sophisticated. I think that the optometrist can still perform a dry eye test (although maybe it is different than opthomologist).  Anyway, you could call them to see if they will be able to test it.

Making a dx for Sjogrens is much more complicated.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm just so angry that I didn't ask for the Schirmer's test or Rose Bengal dye test last time I went to the opthomologist...i didn't know I had to ask for it specially. I just thought they'd do it automatically. I guess they did the slit-lamp test as part of normal eye exam but he didn't tell me anything was wrong or that eyes were dry or anything. Is the Schirmer test the only real one that's really diagnostic of dry eyes or Sjogren's? Or could he of told with just the slit-lamp test or dye test? I don't have vision insurance which is why I can't just go to the opthomologist as freely as I'd like to.
Helpful - 0
471161 tn?1317190950
Optometrists can only fit you for glasses and contact lenses and tell you if it looks like you may need to see an Opthamologist for cataracts or something they happen to notice.  You will have to go to an Opthamologist for the strip test.  Your optometrist can probably tell you if your eyes are dry but I wouldn't even rely on that.  Your eyes are too important and they are not true eye doctors.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.
Joni
Helpful - 0
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