Dry Eye After LASIK - Do You Need To Worry?

The treatment of myopia and other nearsightedness related conditions includes a procedure called LASIK surgery.

During this procedure, a flap is cut in the cornea.

After the surgery is completed and the healing process begins, the nerve damage that inevitably occurs causes the blinking and tearing reflexes to be altered.

This results almost universally in a dry eye condition which is usually only temporary.

To lessen the dry eye problem after surgery, a few things can be done, both pre-op and post-op:

• First, a thorough examination to determine existing dry eye syndrome should be done. Also, the surgeon should prepare the surface of the eye prior to the surgery.

• Instead of using a steel blade to make the flap incision, a laser called an Intralase FS laser is preferable.

  This has been shown to significantly lessen the nerve damage to the eye during the procedure. A steel blade causes a deeper cut resulting in more post-operative dry eye symptoms.

• After the surgery, a regimen of artificial tears is suggested.

  Since the studies have shown that LASIK and dry eyes often go together, this is even more important. This is true even if the patient had no history of dry eye symptoms.

  The use of artificial tears helps the eye become healthy and restores natural blinking and tearing reflexes over time.

• Some eye surgeons are suggesting that a prescription called Restasis be used for at least 30 days after surgery.

  Again, the dry eye problems are temporary and will normally go away in about that same time frame.

  The use of Restasis also helps restore the tear layers of the eye, sharpen the vision and make enhancements unnecessary after LASIK is done.

Chronic dry eye after LASIK

Some of these doctors and experts say that between 30% and 50% of LASIK patients sustain chronic dry eye syndrome after surgery.

! But "only" 20% report dry eyes after six months !

Still the use of LASIK surgery continues to be the most popular surgical method for the treatment of myopia and other conditions where the eye itself is elongated.

Several other procedures do exist, but LASIK is considered to be one of the safest and most widely practiced among eye surgeons worldwide.

But as with any medical or surgical treatment, you need to arm yourself with the best information and then make your own decision. See a few doctors before you commit to one and get their opinions. A little homework can go a long way to making the right decision for you.

Before you commit to surgery, be sure to research all possible side effects that may occur.



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