If you’ve used drops, warm compresses, supplements, lid treatments — or even advanced in-clinic dry eye therapies — and your eyes still burn, sting, ache or feel painfully uncomfortable, it’s natural to start asking a bigger question:
Is this really dry eye — or is it something else?
For some patients, the answer lies not in the tear film, but in the nerves of the cornea.
BRILL® is a groundbreaking diagnostic tool designed specifically to assess corneal neuropathic pain — a condition that is still under-recognised and frequently mistaken for dry eye disease.
It allows us to evaluate how the corneal nerves respond to sensation, helping us understand whether symptoms are being driven by:
At present, Eye Clinic London is the only clinic in the UK offering BRILL® as part of a specialist ocular surface and pain assessment, making it a truly unique diagnostic option for patients who feel stuck without answers.
Corneal neuropathic pain is a condition where the nerves on the surface of the eye become overly sensitive or start sending pain signals inappropriately.
In simple terms, the eye can feel painful, burning or irritated even when the surface looks relatively normal.
This is why many patients are told:
…yet the symptoms remain very real.
Corneal neuropathic pain is increasingly recognised worldwide, but it is still not routinely assessed in standard eye exams.
Dry eye disease is primarily a tear-film and surface problem. Neuropathic pain is primarily a nerve problem.
The two can feel very similar — and they often overlap — but there are important differences:
This overlap is exactly why neuropathic pain is so often misdiagnosed as dry eye alone.
Patients may experience:
Not everyone has all symptoms — and many patients have a mixed picture of dry eye and nerve-related pain.
There is no single cause. In many cases, it develops after the corneal nerves have been irritated, inflamed or injured. Possible triggers include:
There is no single cause. In many cases, it develops after the corneal nerves have been irritated, inflamed or injured. Possible triggers include:
Understanding complex eye pain requires both specialist expertise and the right diagnostic tools.
The clinic is led by Mr Samer Hamada, a leading corneal and refractive surgeon with extensive experience in ocular surface disease, dry eye, and meibomian gland dysfunction. Working closely with the cornea in both medical and surgical settings has highlighted that not all persistent eye discomfort behaves like typical dry eye disease.
As understanding of corneal neuropathic pain has developed, it became clear that conventional assessments alone do not always provide sufficient answers for patients with ongoing, unexplained symptoms.
For this reason, Eye Clinic London is currently the only clinic in the UK offering BRILL® corneal sensitivity assessment as part of a specialist evaluation for complex eye pain. BRILL® was introduced to support the assessment, diagnosis, and management of conditions where corneal nerve sensitivity may be contributing to symptoms.
Used alongside a full clinical examination, BRILL® helps provide greater clarity in cases that are difficult to explain or manage, supporting more informed and appropriate next steps for each patient.
Assessment always starts with a consultation, not a machine.
BRILL® is used as a supporting diagnostic tool, alongside:
BRILL helps us add objective information about corneal nerve sensitivity, which can be invaluable when symptoms don’t match traditional dry eye findings.
Your assessment and interpretation are led by Mr Samer Hamada, an internationally recognised specialist in ocular surface disease and complex dry eye, supported by a dedicated specialist team.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach.
If neuropathic corneal pain is identified or suspected, the next steps may include:
The aim is clarity — understanding why your eyes feel the way they do, and what can realistically help.
If you’ve reached the point where you’re asking, “Is this really dry eye — or something else?”, this assessment is designed for you.
You can book a consultation for BRILL® assessment either:
Because living with eye pain without answers is not something you should have to accept.
Discover affordable eye care through our flexible finance and insurance offerings with expert financial guidance at Eye Clinic London. For comprehensive understanding, please contact us.
Strategically located in Devonshire Street, Harley Medical District, Marylebone, in the heart of London, our clinic is easily accessible, ensuring that your journey to exceptional eye care is as convenient as possible. Our central position ensures that you can easily reach us from various parts of the city.
Devonshire street in Marylebone is not just an address; it’s a hub of convenience and accessibility. With excellent transport links and a wealth of amenities nearby, your visit to Eye Clinic London will be convenient and hassle-free experience.
Whether you are a local resident or visiting form other parts of UK or abroad, our location will provide you with seamless connection to the private eye doctor in London.
When choosing to travel by public transport please alight at Bond Street Station and walk for 7 mins, alternatively exit at Oxford Circus station or Baker Street Station and walk for 10 mins.
Street parking is available.
Eye Clinic London 7 Devonshire Street
London, W1W 5DY
The McIndoe Centre Holtye Road East
Grinstead RH19 3EB
