InflammaDry Tests Back in Stock for Better Dry Eye Diagnosis and Treatment
Dry eye can feel simple at first. Burning, watering, redness, gritty vision, tired eyes. The tricky part is that those same symptoms can come from different underlying problems, and each type of dry eye may need a different treatment plan.
That is why we are glad to share that InflammaDry tests are back in stock. These in-office tests detect inflammation on the surface of the eye, which can help determine what kind of dry eye a person has and which treatment is most likely to help. They were unavailable for almost a year until now.
Dry eye care works best when it is specific. Someone with clogged oil glands may need a different plan than someone with an inflamed tear film. A person with both problems may need both treated at the same time. InflammaDry gives us another useful piece of information so the diagnosis is less of a guessing game.
This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace a medical eye exam or personalized care from an eye doctor.
Why dry eye diagnosis is not always straightforward
Dry eye isn't a single condition. It often involves tear film instability, inflammation, oil gland dysfunction, tear deficiency, eyelid irritation, and environmental stress.
That is why two people can both say, “My eyes feel dry,” but need very different treatment.
Common dry eye symptoms include:
Burning or stinging
Sandy or gritty feeling
Redness
Watery eyes
Blurry vision that comes and goes
Eye fatigue with reading or screens
Light sensitivity
Contact lens discomfort
Mucus or stringy discharge
A feeling that something is in the eye
Watery eyes can surprise people, but it is common. When the eye's surface is irritated, it may trigger reflex tearing. Those tears may not have the right balance of oil, water, and mucus to stay stable, so the eye can still feel dry even while it waters.
The goal of a dry eye workup is to answer a few practical questions:
Is the tear film breaking up too quickly?
Are the meibomian glands producing enough healthy oil?
Is there inflammation on the ocular surface?
Is the eye making enough tears?
Are allergies, eyelid disease, medications, contact lenses, or screen habits contributing?
Is this a short-term flare or a chronic pattern?
InflammaDry helps with one of the most important parts of that puzzle: ocular surface inflammation.
Different types of dry eye need different care
Dry eye is often described in broad categories. These categories overlap, but they help guide decisions.
Type of dry eye | What may be happening | Common care focus |
Evaporative dry eye | Tears evaporate too quickly, often because the oil layer is poor | Meibomian gland support, warm compresses, lid care, tear stabilization |
Aqueous deficient dry eye | The eyes may not produce enough watery tears | Lubrication, tear conservation, evaluation for related health factors |
Inflammatory dry eye | Inflammation affects the ocular surface and tear film | Anti-inflammatory care, surface protection, trigger control |
Mixed dry eye | More than one factor is present | A combined plan based on exam findings |
What InflammaDry tests measure
InflammaDry is an in-office test that detects elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in tears.
MMP-9 is an inflammatory marker. When levels are elevated, they may suggest inflammation plays a role in the dry eye process. That matters because inflammatory dry eye often needs more than artificial tears alone.
The test is quick and is typically done during the visit. The test collects a small sample from the tear film, then the device processes and reads it in the office. The result can help guide the next step in care.
A positive test does not mean inflammation causes every symptom. A negative test does not mean dry eye symptoms are not real. It simply gives the doctor more information when combined with the rest of the exam.
The value of InflammaDry is not that it replaces the eye exam. It helps make the exam more targeted.
Dry eye is often multifactorial. Someone may have meibomian gland dysfunction and inflammation. Another person may have low tear production and irritation from allergies. The test result is one clue, not the whole diagnosis.
Why inflammation changes the treatment plan
When inflammation is present, the eye surface can get stuck in a cycle.
The tear film becomes unstable. The eye surface gets irritated. Inflammatory markers rise. The tear film becomes even less stable. Symptoms continue, and over-the-counter drops may only give short relief.
Artificial tears can still help, especially preservative-free options, but they may not be enough on their own if inflammation is a major driver.
A treatment plan for inflammatory dry eye may include options such as:
Preservative-free lubricating drops
Anti-inflammatory prescription eye drops when appropriate
Short-term medication to calm a flare, when clinically indicated
Lid hygiene if eyelid inflammation is present
Warm compresses if oil glands are blocked
Treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction
Environmental changes, such as reducing airflow toward the eyes
Contact lens changes or temporary lens breaks
Follow-up testing to see whether signs and symptoms improve
The right plan depends on the exam, medical history, medications, contact lens wear, allergies, and symptom pattern.
A person who has mostly evaporative dry eye from poor oil gland function may benefit from treatments that improve the oil layer of the tear film. A person with a strong inflammatory component may need the inflammation addressed directly. A person with both may need a combined plan.
That is where testing can make care more precise.
Different types of dry eye need different care
Dry eye is often described in broad categories. These categories overlap, but they help guide decisions.
Type of dry eye | What may be happening | Common care focus |
Evaporative dry eye | Tears evaporate too quickly, often because the oil layer is poor | Meibomian gland support, warm compresses, lid care, tear stabilization |
Aqueous deficient dry eye | The eyes may not produce enough watery tears | Lubrication, tear conservation, evaluation for related health factors |
Inflammatory dry eye | Inflammation affects the ocular surface and tear film | Anti-inflammatory care, surface protection, trigger control |
Mixed dry eye | More than one factor is present | A combined plan based on exam findings |
Most moderate or long-term dry eye cases are mixed. That is why a quick symptom check is often not enough.
For example, someone may say their eyes burn at the end of the day after computer work. That could be related to reduced blinking, tear evaporation, oil gland dysfunction, or inflammation. Another person may wake up with dry, irritated eyes because their eyelids do not seal fully during sleep or because the tear film is already unstable overnight.
Symptoms give the starting point. Testing and examination help identify the cause.
What to expect during a dry eye evaluation
A dry eye visit is usually focused on both symptoms and signs. Symptoms are what you feel. Signs are what the doctor can see or measure.
During the visit, the exam may include a discussion of:
When symptoms started
Whether symptoms are worse in the morning or evening
Screen use and reading habits
Contact lens wear
Current drops or medications
Allergies
Autoimmune conditions or systemic health issues
Past eye surgery
Work or home environment
The clinical exam may look at:
Tear film quality
Tear breakup time
Eyelid position and blink pattern
Meibomian gland function
Redness or irritation on the eye surface
Corneal staining
Eyelid margin inflammation
Tear volume
Signs of allergy or blepharitis
InflammaDry may be used when inflammation is suspected or when symptoms and signs do not fully match. It can also help you decide whether anti-inflammatory treatment should be part of the plan.
Dry eye testing works best when it is paired with a complete eye surface exam.
Why being back in stock matters
Testing supplies can run low from time to time, and InflammaDry was recently out of stock. Now that we have a new batch available, we can again use this point-of-care test when it fits the dry eye evaluation.
That helps in several ways.
It gives a clearer starting point.
When inflammation is detected, the treatment discussion can become more focused. Instead of trying one generic step after another, the plan can address a major contributing factor earlier.
It helps explain stubborn symptoms.
Some people use artificial tears often but still feel burning, redness, or fluctuating vision. If inflammation is present, those symptoms may persist until you treat it.
More customized care
Dry eye treatment ought to match the cause. The same drop or home routine will not work for everyone. Test results can help separate people who mainly need lubrication from those who may need inflammation control, gland treatment, or both.
Track progress
In some cases, repeat testing can tell us what has changed. Symptoms still matter most, but objective findings can help guide care adjustments.
What a positive or negative result may mean
InflammaDry results are interpreted along with the rest of the exam. The result alone does not diagnose every detail of dry eye disease.
A positive result suggests elevated MMP-9 and active inflammation on the eye surface. That may lead the doctor to discuss anti-inflammatory treatment, closer follow-up, or other therapies to calm the eye surface.
A negative result means elevated MMP-9 was not detected at that time. Symptoms may still come from tear instability, meibomian gland dysfunction, low tear production, allergy, eyelid issues, contact lens irritation, or other causes.
This is why both results can be useful. A positive result can point toward inflammation. A negative result can help shift attention toward other causes.
Dry eye care rarely depends on a single test. It is about building the clearest picture possible.
When to ask about dry eye testing
Consider a dry eye evaluation if symptoms keep coming back or over-the-counter drops don't provide lasting relief.
Testing may be especially helpful when symptoms include:
Burning that returns soon after using drops
Redness or irritation that does not fully clear
Fluctuating vision while reading or using screens
Contact lens discomfort that has increased over time
Dryness that affects daily activities
Light sensitivity with irritation
A gritty feeling that happens most days
Ongoing symptoms after eye surgery
Morning dryness or nighttime irritation
People sometimes wait until dry eye becomes severe before asking for help. Earlier evaluation can make treatment simpler. It may also help protect the eye surface before symptoms start affecting vision, comfort, and contact lens tolerance.
Better testing can lead to better conversations
One of the most frustrating parts of dry eye is that it can feel invisible. The eyes may look only mildly red, but the discomfort can affect reading, driving, work, sleep, and contact lens wear.
A test like InflammaDry can make the conversation more concrete. It gives the doctor and patient another data point to discuss:
Is inflammation part of the problem?
Should treatment focus on the oil glands, the tear layer, inflammation, or all three?
How soon should symptoms be rechecked?
What should improvement look like?
When should the plan be adjusted?
The best dry eye treatment isn't always the most aggressive. It is the most appropriate treatment for the type and severity of disease.
The takeaway
InflammaDry testing is back in stock, and that is good news for anyone dealing with ongoing dry eye symptoms. The test can help identify whether inflammation is causing dryness, burning, watering, redness, or fluctuating vision.
Dry eye is common, but it is not universal. A more complete diagnosis may result in a more targeted plan, whether that means lubrication, lid treatment, anti-inflammatory care, meibomian gland support, or a combination.
If dry eye symptoms keep returning, do not rely on guesswork. A focused eye exam, paired with the right testing when needed, can help identify the type of dry eye and the treatment that makes the most sense.
Author: Dr. Kim Raharja, OD is clinical director of Atlanta Eye Associates, a national educator and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) specializing in dry eye disease and ocular surface disorders.
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