LASIK and Dry Eyes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a treatment that uses light energy to change your cornea’s shape to correct refractive errors and improve vision. Dry eyes allude to the discomfort when tears do not adequately moisturize the eye.

Around 90 percent of patients who have undergone LASIK report improved vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, according to the Optometrists Network, about 95 percent of patients report dry eye symptoms a few days or weeks after LASIK treatment.

The Good

Dry eye symptoms after LASIK are temporary. Many patients see an improvement in their symptoms as time goes on.

Roughly 60 percent of patients continue to experience dry eye symptoms one month after surgery. But most LASIK patients have fully recuperated six to 12 months post-treatment. Lingering dry eye symptoms one year or more after LASIK is not ordinary.

You can manage this part of your recovery by:

 

• Drinking enough water to maintain a healthy tear film
   

• Consuming omega-3 fatty acids through a diet rich in oily fish, seeds, and nuts promotes a healthy tear balance
   

• Using indoor air humidifiers increases moisture in your home or workplace and prevents dryness
   

• Applying prescription lubricating eye drops, ointments, and gels relieves dry eye symptoms

The Bad

Tear glands and corneal nerve work together to keep your eyes healthy and moisturized. But LASIK can interfere with that relationship.

The reshaped cornea can change how your eyelid touches your eye, thus affecting the tear glands. Additionally, post-surgery swelling can make your eyes drier. Swelling is the body's natural reaction to a threat and can be a part of the healing process.

As a result, you may experience:

 

• Eye soreness and redness
   

• Dryness and itchiness
   

• Grittiness and irritation
   

• Eye fatigue
   

• Blurry vision

These symptoms are usually temporary and may only need medical treatment for a couple of months. Talk to an eye doctor at Family Eye Clinic if you experience these symptoms after LASIK. Treatment may include lubricating eye drops, medication to promote tear production, and prescriptions to ease swelling in the eye.

The Ugly

Certain factors can increase your risk of complications post-LASIK. Eye infections and conditions, such as preexisting dry eye, keratoconus, glaucoma, and cataracts, can complicate the treatment and worsen dry eyes. Also, autoimmune diseases like diabetes and Sjogren's syndrome can alter tear production and complicate recovery from LASIK.

If you have any of these illnesses and are not undergoing treatment to manage them, you may develop eye complications post-LASIK, including vision loss. Your eye doctor may also disqualify you for LASIK treatment.

In Conclusion

LASIK is a generally safe and helpful treatment for correcting refractive errors like myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. But it can also come with side effects and complications, the most familiar being dry eyes.

If you have preexisting dry eyes, your ophthalmologist may consider treating your dry eyes before starting LASIK treatment. Your eye doctor may not rule you out as a candidate for LASIK.

To minimize the risk of chronic dry eye after LASIK, find an eye doctor who knows how to pick candidates for LASIK. If you are unsuitable for LASIK, your eye doctor will recommend another treatment that could be a good fit for your eyes.

For more on LASIK and dry eyes, visit Family Eye Clinic at our office in Midlothian, Texas. Call (972) 775-8000 to book an appointment today.