Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Care · 5 Northern Virginia Offices Board-Certified Ophthalmologists · Better Vision Through Better Care Since 1989
Dry Eye Symptom Assessment
Complete the clinically validated OSDI questionnaire used by eye doctors worldwide and discover your dry eye pattern in about 3 minutes.
Board-Certified Ophthalmologists Caring for Northern Virginia Since 1989 5 Northern Virginia Offices
A Message From Our Care Team
Dry eye is one of the conditions we treat most — and no two cases are quite alike. This short check-in uses the same OSDI questionnaire our doctors rely on in the exam room, so your result is a useful first step toward a full dry eye evaluation at any of our five Northern Virginia offices.
Board-Certified Ophthalmologists · Caring for Northern Virginia Since 1989
0 of 12 answered~3:00 estimated
Clinically Validated Screening Tool
Assess Your Dry Eye Symptoms
The OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) is the gold-standard questionnaire used by eye care professionals to assess dry eye severity. Answer 12 questions to receive your score and personalized treatment guidance.
12 OSDI Questions ~3 Minutes Clinically Validated No Account Required
About the OSDI: The Ocular Surface Disease Index was validated in a US clinical population (Schiffman et al., 2000, Archives of Ophthalmology) and is the primary symptom screening tool recommended by TFOS DEWS II (2017) and the AAO Preferred Practice Pattern for Dry Eye (2023). Scores range from 0–100. A score ≥13 may suggest dry eye symptoms warranting professional evaluation (Miller et al., 2010).
What You'll Receive
Your OSDI score with severity band — Normal, Mild, Moderate, or Severe based on validated US clinical thresholds.
Treatment guidance tailored to your score — from at-home care to prescription drops and in-office medical management.
Care guidance from our board-certified team, caring for Northern Virginia from five offices since 1989.
Section A — Ocular Symptoms
Questions 1–3 of 12 · How often did you experience these symptoms in the past week?
1
Eyes that are sensitive to light?
Think about the past week. Select how often this occurred.
OSDI subscale: Ocular Symptoms. Light sensitivity (photophobia) is a validated OSDI indicator associated with tear film instability and ocular surface inflammation.
Section A — Ocular Symptoms
Questions 1–3 of 12 · How often in the past week?
2
Eyes that feel gritty?
A sandy or gritty sensation is one of the most common dry eye symptoms.
OSDI subscale: Ocular Symptoms. Gritty sensation (foreign body sensation) is strongly associated with evaporative dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
Section A — Ocular Symptoms
Questions 1–3 of 12 · How often in the past week?
3
Painful or sore eyes?
Include any burning, stinging, or aching discomfort in or around your eyes.
OSDI subscale: Ocular Symptoms. Burning and pain suggest inflammation of the ocular surface — a key driver of the dry eye cycle identified in TFOS DEWS II (2017).
Section B — Vision-Related Function
Questions 4–9 of 12 · Did problems with your eyes limit you doing these activities in the past week?
Note: If an activity does not apply to you (e.g., you don't drive), select "N/A – does not apply to me."
4
Reading?
Did dry eye symptoms limit your ability to read books, documents, or other printed material?
OSDI subscale: Vision-Related Function. Reading reduces blink rate by up to 66%, accelerating tear evaporation.
Section B — Vision-Related Function
Questions 4–9 of 12
5
Driving at night?
Did dry eye symptoms make it difficult or uncomfortable to drive, especially after dark?
OSDI subscale: Vision-Related Function. Night driving difficulty reflects tear film instability.
Section B — Vision-Related Function
Questions 4–9 of 12
6
Working with a computer or bank machine?
Include laptops, tablets, phones, and other screens.
OSDI subscale: Vision-Related Function. Screen use >4 hours/day has an OR of 1.83 for dry eye. See Digital Screen Time and Dry Eye.
Section B — Vision-Related Function
Questions 4–9 of 12
7
Watching TV?
Did dry eye symptoms make watching television uncomfortable or difficult to sustain?
Did wind or strong air movement make your eyes uncomfortable, teary, or irritated?
OSDI subscale: Environmental Triggers. Wind significantly increases evaporative stress on the tear film.
Section C — Environmental Triggers
Questions 10–12 of 12 · Final question!
12
Areas with low humidity (very dry conditions)?
Did dry environments — like heated rooms in winter, airplanes, or desert climates — worsen your eye symptoms?
OSDI subscale: Environmental Triggers. Low-humidity environments reduce the ambient water vapor that helps maintain the tear film. See Environmental Factors That Cause Dry Eye.
Your OSDI Assessment Results
Based on your 12 responses, here is your validated dry eye symptom score and personalized guidance.
Clinical Flag: Possible Aqueous Deficiency — Consider Sjögren's Screening
Your OSDI score is in the Severe range with strong aqueous deficiency signals. We recommend discussing anti-SSA/SSB antibody testing with your eye care provider or rheumatologist. Learn more about Sjögren's syndrome.
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Calculating your score...
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Pattern Analysis
Your Dry Eye Signature
OSDI subscale signals mapped across four dry eye phenotypes. Click any card to see clinical context.
Educational only — This pattern mapping is interpretive, not a validated subtype diagnosis. Clinical confirmation with your eye doctor — including tear break-up time and ocular surface staining — is recommended.
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Evaporative (Meibomian Gland)
Lipid layer instability
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Inflammatory Component
Ocular surface cascade
Evaporative Dry Eye — MGD
The most prevalent dry eye subtype (up to 86% of cases). Meibomian gland blockage reduces lipid layer thickness. Warm-compress therapy, lid hygiene, and prescription drops target this root cause.
Ocular surface inflammation as both cause and consequence — a self-perpetuating cycle. Prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops can help interrupt this cycle.
OSDI Section C triggers — air conditioning, wind, low humidity — accelerate tear evaporation. Responds well to humidity control and screen-time adjustments.
In-office expression of the meibomian glands, plus eyelid hygiene and lid scrubs, to clear blockages and treat the blepharitis and MGD driving evaporative dry eye.
When dry eye is linked to a systemic condition, we coordinate with your primary care physician, rheumatologist, or a corneal specialist so your care is managed as a whole.
Chronic Dry EyeLong-term management for patients with persistent, refractory symptoms.
Ocular Surface DiseaseComplex ocular surface conditions including MGD, blepharitis, and conjunctival disease.
Meet Your Dry Eye Care Team
Dry eye at The Eye Center is co-managed by our board-certified ophthalmologists and our optometric primary-care team — caring for Northern Virginia since 1989.
Your dry eye care may be led by any of our ophthalmologists or optometrists depending on your location and needs — with seamless referral to a cornea or ocular-surface specialist when a case calls for it.
Why The Eye Center?
ABO Board-Certified Ophthalmologists
ReFocus Eye Health Network Member
Caring for NoVA Since 1989
5 Offices Across Northern Virginia
Ready for a Comprehensive Dry Eye Evaluation?
Our eye doctors will confirm your dry eye pattern using tear break-up time testing and ocular surface staining — then create a personalized treatment roadmap.
