What Causes Dry Eyes After LASIK?
Laser eye surgery, or LASIK, provides an opportunity to reduce or eliminate a person's dependence on eyeglasses.
While the surgery is rapid and low risk, many patients develop a common side effect after the surgery called dry eyes.
Why does the eye become dry after LASIK?The creation of the flap injures the nerve endings of the cornea.
Once these nerve endings are damaged they do not respond in a normal manner.
A main function of these nerve endings is to instruct the brain to produces more tears when the surface of the eye becomes dry.
Once damaged this function is limited.
After the LASIK surgery, there are many treatments to soothe the dry eyes.
The first is frequent lubrication with artificial tears.
It is not unusual to need artificial tear drops every hour in the first few weeks after the surgery.
For people with persistent dryness, other treatments such as topical anti-inflammatory drops and punctal plugs can be used.
The most common anti-inflammatory eyedrop is call Restasis; it is felt that the anti-inflammatory effect of the eye drop promotes better tear secretion.
The placement of punctal plugs semi-permanently closes the outflow drainage system from the eye.
This allows the tears that are produced to remain in the eye longer.
The most important thing is to undergo an adequate pre-operative evaluation for the potential for dry eyes.
At your LASIK consultation, your non-ocular medications must be reviewed to assess for any potential dry eye side effects.
This includes over the counter medications.
The surface of the eyes must be examined for any signs of dry eyes.
In addition a history of poor contact lens wear often is due to an underlying dry eyes.
In general, women seem to have more dry eye issues than men.
In particular women who are either peri- or post-menopausal.
If properly treated pre-operatively many of these dry eye conditions can be minimized after surgery.
In rare cases dry eye symptoms can persist up to six months or longer.
While the surgery is rapid and low risk, many patients develop a common side effect after the surgery called dry eyes.
Why does the eye become dry after LASIK?The creation of the flap injures the nerve endings of the cornea.
Once these nerve endings are damaged they do not respond in a normal manner.
A main function of these nerve endings is to instruct the brain to produces more tears when the surface of the eye becomes dry.
Once damaged this function is limited.
After the LASIK surgery, there are many treatments to soothe the dry eyes.
The first is frequent lubrication with artificial tears.
It is not unusual to need artificial tear drops every hour in the first few weeks after the surgery.
For people with persistent dryness, other treatments such as topical anti-inflammatory drops and punctal plugs can be used.
The most common anti-inflammatory eyedrop is call Restasis; it is felt that the anti-inflammatory effect of the eye drop promotes better tear secretion.
The placement of punctal plugs semi-permanently closes the outflow drainage system from the eye.
This allows the tears that are produced to remain in the eye longer.
The most important thing is to undergo an adequate pre-operative evaluation for the potential for dry eyes.
At your LASIK consultation, your non-ocular medications must be reviewed to assess for any potential dry eye side effects.
This includes over the counter medications.
The surface of the eyes must be examined for any signs of dry eyes.
In addition a history of poor contact lens wear often is due to an underlying dry eyes.
In general, women seem to have more dry eye issues than men.
In particular women who are either peri- or post-menopausal.
If properly treated pre-operatively many of these dry eye conditions can be minimized after surgery.
In rare cases dry eye symptoms can persist up to six months or longer.
