LASIK and Dry Eyes

If you are considering LASIK surgery, you likely have found yourself looking for information in regard to some of the problems that can be associated with LASIK surgery from time to time.  In this article, we do share with you some infromation about potential problems associated with LASIK.  Specifically, in this article we visit with you about LASIK and dry eye.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition caused by lack of tearing and lubrication. This is an irritating and sometimes painful condition, but doesn’t mean you can’t have LASIK eye surgery. It simply means your doctor needs to find and treat the cause before surgery.

How Dry Eye Occurs

This is important not just for comfort, but because eyes also contain substances that kill infection-causing germs. Although natural body functions and hormonal changes can contribute to dry eyes, there may also be other causes as well. Doctors have two different tests at their disposal-the Schirmer test will tell the quantity of tears, and the Tear Break-Up Test tells the quality of the tears.

You and Your Tears

Tear quantity is determined by tear production, tear drainage or retention, or both. If the eyes don’t produce enough tears-or drain and evaporate too quickly-they will dry out. The quality of a tear is determined by the composition. Three substances go into a tear, and each is produced by a different gland. If these three ingredients are out of balance, tear quality is reduced and eyes suffer.

Dry Eye After LASIK

 If you don’t suffer from dry eye syndrome, it could affect you after your LASIK surgery. In fact, it’s a common occurrence after many of the eye surgery procedures. Almost everyone who has LASIK surgery will suffer a bit from dry eye. The important thing is to limit it in both severity and length of time.

Symptoms Normally are not Severe

Most of the time dry eye symptoms after surgery are not severe enough to be concerned about. Most of these symptoms will disappear gradually by six months after the procedure is performed. For some, though, the condition may become severe or last longer then the healing period.

Treatments for Dry Eye

Most of the treatments involve using artificial tears. Your doctor should choose a brand that’s right for you, and free of preservatives, or preservative free on contact (which means the preservative that kills germs disappears almost immediately after being placed in the eye). Your doctor will judge the brands by their formula, whether they are thick (for eye protection) or thin (for faster relief), and the state of preservatives.

Another method to treat more severe cases of dry eye is the punctual plug, which is a small silicone plug that the doctor uses to plug up the tear drains in the eyelids. Your surgeon may also give you prescription eyedrops that are formulated to reduce inflammation.

Drink Plenty of Water

Also remember that if you don’t drink enough water, your eyes don’t get their share. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids during your LASIK recovery,  especially if you live in a dry climate