What happens if your eyes get too dry after LASIK?
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What happens if your eyes get too dry after LASIK?
LASIK causes some nerves in the cornea to be cut, which reduces corneal sensitivity to some degree. In response, you eye may not sense the need for lubrication, causing your body to produce fewer tears, leading to dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes after LASIK can cause both discomfort and less than optimal visual outcomes.
Can dry eye last for months?
Have you been dealing with dry eyes for months on end? You might have chronic dry eye. This form of dry eye lasts for a long period and doesn’t go away easily. Before you go to the doctor, it’s important to look closely at your symptoms.
How common is permanent dry eye after LASIK?
Dry eye symptoms are reported in as high as 60\% of patients 1 month after LASIK [3,7]. Post-LASIK dry eye usually peaks in the first few months after surgery, and then symptoms begin to improve in the vast majority of patients at 6–12 months after surgery.
Does LASIK cause permanent dry eyes?
But LASIK itself isn’t often the trigger for the dry eye. Nearly half to three-quarters of the people reporting dry eye had symptoms of it before the surgery. Dry eye after LASIK typically gets better over time. But in rare cases, LASIK can lead to severe and chronic dry eyes.
How do you fix dry eyes after LASIK?
Add a little moisture to your eyes and start seeing 20/20 vision with these tips.
- Drug Store Eye Drops. One of the most common solutions for LASIK dry eyes is drugstore eye drops.
- Medicated Eye Drops.
- Collagen Punctal Plugs.
- Silicon Punctal Plugs.
- Scleral Contact Lenses.
- Make Sure You’re Hydrated.
- Change Your Diet.
Is LASIK dry eye permanent?
Post-LASIK dry eye symptoms are usually mild, and they typically don’t last long. However, in some cases dry eye can persist for months or years. The reason so many people experience dry eye following LASIK is that the creation of the corneal flaps affects the nerves that regulate the production of tears.