A visit to the Dry Eye Clinic is more useful when you come prepared. This page is a practical checklist: what to prepare in the days before, what to remember on the day itself, and what to do after the visit. If you want to know what happens during the appointment itself, what is checked and how the plan is put together, read the dry eye consultation page.
In the days before the visit
A short symptom diary
For a few days before the visit, write down in a few words how your eyes feel. There is no need for a neat table; a short note on your phone is enough. Pay particular attention to:
- When the symptoms are stronger: in the morning, at the end of the day, at a screen, in air conditioning, in the wind or when driving.
- What they feel like: burning, a gritty, sandy feeling, pain, itching, a lot of tears or vision that blurs.
- What helps and what does not: drops, compresses, breaks from screens, sleep.
- Whether the symptoms started after a particular event, such as eye surgery, a new medicine or a change at work.
If it suits you, you can also use the symptom questionnaire on the Mitzmutz site. It is an optional tool, not a requirement, and some people find it helps them describe their symptoms at the visit.
A list of all your drops and medicines
Prepare a list of everything you put in your eyes: lubricating drops, gels, ointments and prescription drops, including how many times a day you use them. Also add all the medicines you take by mouth, over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements. Some medicines affect the tears; you will find information on this on the medicines that cause dry eyes page. If you find it hard to remember the names, photograph the packs or bring them.
Previous tests and documents
- Visit summaries from eye doctors and referrals, if you have them.
- Results of previous eye examinations.
- Letters from other doctors if you have a general condition related to the eyes, for example Sjögren's, a rheumatic disease, diabetes or a thyroid disease.
- Details of previous surgery on the eyes or eyelids, including vision-correction surgery.
Questions that matter to you
Write your questions down in advance, so that you do not forget them during the visit. For example: what you feel bothers you most in daily life, what you have tried that did not help, and what you hope to achieve from treatment. You will find ideas for more questions on the dry eye consultation page.
On the day of the visit
Contact lenses, drops and eye make-up
Come without eye make-up. Contact lenses and certain drops can affect some of the tests, so follow the exact instructions you receive when you book your appointment. If you have not received instructions or something is unclear, ask us in advance. Do not stop prescription drops or medicines without being told to.
What to bring with you
- The list of drops and medicines, or the packs themselves.
- Your previous documents and test results.
- Your regular glasses and reading glasses.
- If you wear contact lenses, your lens case, so that you can take them out if asked.
- Your list of questions and your symptom diary.
Getting to the clinic
The clinic is at 10 Marconi St., Haifa. Visits are by appointment only, so it is best to arrive at the time arranged. If you need accessibility arrangements, let us know when you book your appointment, so that we can prepare in advance. More information about the clinic is on the Dry Eye Clinic in Haifa page.
After the visit
At the end of the visit you will receive an explanation and a treatment plan. To make the plan work:
- Write the plan down: which drops, how many times a day, and how to warm and clean your eyelids if this is part of the plan. If anything is unclear, ask before you leave.
- Keep up the symptom diary: a short note every few days helps show at the follow-up visit what has changed.
- Book the follow-up visit: dry eye is usually a long-term condition, and at follow-up the plan is adjusted according to what has happened in the meantime.
- Keep other doctors informed: if you have a general condition related to the eyes, it is worth letting the doctor treating it know about the findings too.
For more questions about the treatments, the number of visits and booking, see frequently asked questions about treatment at the clinic.
When to see a doctor straight away: do not wait for your planned visit if you have 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. In such cases go to an eye emergency department.
Want a basic explanation first?Want to organise your symptoms before the visit? The symptom questionnaire on the Mitzmutz site
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop my drops before the visit?
Do not stop prescription drops or medicines without being told to. If there is a special instruction about drops on the day of the visit, you will receive it when you book your appointment.
I forgot to prepare the list of medicines. Is that all right?
Yes. You can photograph the packs on your phone or bring them with you. The list helps, but the visit will go ahead without it too.
Do I have to fill in the symptom questionnaire on the Mitzmutz site?
No. It is an optional tool that can help you organise your thoughts before the visit. At the visit itself you will fill in a short symptom questionnaire in any case.
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.