If you want to get rid of your eyeglasses or contact lenses, LASIK could probably be a good option for you. Many patients could attest to the effectiveness of this procedure. However, some patients have experienced dry eye symptoms after the procedure. This is true, but it’s not necessarily a cause for concern. Dry eye happens to some patients, typically just for a short while, but others don’t experience it at all during the healing process.
To help you understand how dry eye occurs to some patients, Joel H McGahen, OD shares more information below.
Why Does LASIK Cause Dry Eye?
LASIK may cause some nerves in the cornea to be cut or damaged, and this can potentially reduce your corneal sensitivity. When this happens, your eye may not be able to sense its need for lubrication. Your body then produces fewer tears, which leads to dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye can be uncomfortable, and it can affect visual outcomes. In order to prevent this, your eye doctor may give you treatments to increase eye lubrication in advance of your LASIK procedure, even though you don’t experience any dry eye symptoms. Alternatively, they may recommend lubricating eye drops or other therapies to help maintain eye moisture after the procedure.
Who Are at Risk?
There’s no accurate way to determine whether you’ll be prone to dry eye after LASIK or not. However, there are certain factors that could make it likely for you to have dry eye syndrome post-LASIK. Here are some of them:
What Can Be Done About Post-LASIK Dry Eye?
As mentioned earlier, your eye surgeon may consider treating your dry eye prior to LASIK. They may also advise you to take fish oil or flaxseed oil orally for some weeks before the surgery to help improve your tear film. Lubricating eye drops might also be your best friend before and after LASIK. To reduce inflammation and help your body produce more tears, your eye surgeon may recommend prescription eye drops. Don’t worry too much because dry eye symptoms are often most noticeable during the month right after surgery. As long as you follow your doctor’s instructions, you can expect it to get better in six to 12 months.
If you need the expertise of a low vision specialist, Joel H McGahen OD can offer you the services you need. We understand that every patient’s needs are different, so we ensure a personalized approach for each individual. To learn more about our services, call us at (717) 264-4012 or fill out our contact form. We serve clients in Greencastle and Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.