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The Dry Eye Clinic in Haifa is for people whose eyes are dry, burning or painful, and for whom home care is no longer enough. The clinic is at 10 Marconi St., Haifa, and visits are by appointment only. You can contact us on WhatsApp or through the form on this page.
What the first visit includes
The first visit aims to understand exactly what is causing your symptoms. Dry eye is not a single disease, so the examination looks for the mechanism: a shortage of tears, tears that evaporate too quickly, inflammation of the eyelids, or a combination of these.
- A conversation: when the symptoms started, what makes them worse and what eases them, which drops and medicines you have tried, and general health conditions that may be related.
- A symptom questionnaire: a short questionnaire that records how severe your symptoms are and allows comparison at later visits.
- Dry eye tests: examination with a slit lamp (a microscope for examining the eye), fluorescein staining (a harmless yellow-orange dye), measurement of tear break-up time, the Schirmer test (measuring the amount of tears), assessment of the meibomian glands, and a check of the eyelid margins, including for Demodex. Details are on the dry eye testing page.
- Explanation and plan: at the end of the visit you will receive an explanation of the findings and a personal treatment plan, covering what to do at home and in-clinic treatments, if they are needed.
What to bring and how to prepare for the visit can be found on the dry eye consultation page.
After the first visit
Dry eye is usually a long-term condition, so the first visit is the start of a process. After a period of treatment we meet again, check whether the symptoms and findings have improved, and adjust the plan. Some people only need a change in their home care, while others need a course of in-clinic treatments and longer follow-up. If you have a general health condition linked to dryness, it is important that the doctor treating it also knows about the findings in your eyes.
Treatments at the clinic
The following treatments are offered at the clinic. Not every treatment suits everyone, and the choice is made after the examination:
- Dry eye testing: the basis of every treatment plan.
- IPL treatment: broad-spectrum pulsed light to treat blocked meibomian glands and redness of the eyelid margins.
- Meibomian gland expression: gentle emptying of the glands after warming.
- BlephEx treatment: thorough cleaning of the eyelid margins in blepharitis and Demodex.
- Punctal plugs: keeping tears on the surface of the eye for longer.
- Autologous serum eye drops: drops prepared from the patient's own blood, for severe dryness.
- Bandage contact lens: a soft lens that protects the cornea like a bandage, in selected cases.
Alongside the in-clinic treatments, the eye doctor may prescribe drops or other medicines as needed. The clinic's treatments are also listed on the home page.
Who comes to us
- People referred by their eye doctor for further assessment and treatment of dry eye.
- People with dryness, burning or pain lasting months or years, despite drops and compresses.
- People with general conditions that affect the eyes, such as Sjögren's syndrome, GVHD after a bone marrow transplant, rosacea or thyroid eye disease.
- People with stubborn blepharitis, or recurring styes and chalazia.
- People with eye pain that the examination does not explain, which may have a neuropathic component.
- People whose dryness started after eye surgery or after starting a new medicine.
Accessibility
If you need accessibility arrangements, please let us know when you book your appointment, so that we can prepare in advance.
When to see a doctor straight away: the clinic is not intended for urgent conditions. Severe eye pain, a sudden drop in vision, a very red eye with sensitivity to light, or an eye injury or a chemical getting into the eye need an urgent visit to an eye emergency department.
How to book
Visits are by appointment only. Contact us on WhatsApp or fill in the form on this page, and we will get back to you to arrange a time. The cost is set and discussed at the consultation, according to the treatment that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book an appointment?
Visits to the clinic are by appointment only. You can contact us on WhatsApp or leave your details in the form on this page, and we will get back to you to arrange a time.
Do I need a referral from an eye doctor?
It is not required. If you have a referral, a visit summary or results of previous tests, please bring them, as they help us understand the full picture.
Will I get treatment at the first visit?
The first visit is mainly for examination and building a plan. Sometimes treatment can start at the same visit, and sometimes a separate appointment is made for it. This depends on the findings and on the treatment that suits you.
I need accessibility arrangements. Who should I contact?
Let us know when you book your appointment, and we will do our best to adapt the visit to your needs.
Home care not enough? We can look into it.
At the dry eye clinic in Haifa we find out what is causing the dryness and build a personal treatment plan.
The information on this site is general only. It is not medical advice and does not replace an examination by an eye doctor.