Many LASIK patients experience dry eyes as a result of the treatment. In this article, learn about the most important causes and methods of treating dry eyes after LASIK.
LASIK can heal vision issues by correcting farsightedness and nearsightedness and improving vision clarity, but it typically comes with side effects that vary from patient to patient, with dry eye after LASIK being the most notable.
Dry eye after LASIK
One of the most frequent side effects of LASIK is dry eye after surgery, which affects 8 out of every 10 patients.
Following LASIK, dry eye can result in decreased tear production, itchiness, and other unsettling symptoms that lower a patient's quality of life.
Causes of dry eyes after LASIK
In order to improve and correct vision, LASIK involves reshaping the cornea. This can disrupt the tear ducts in the eye, which can result in dry eyes after LASIK.
The nerve fibres of the cornea, one of the most significant tear-producing areas in the eye, can be harmed by laser removal of corneal tissue to correct vision, which can lead to dry eyes following LASIK.
It should be noted that some people have dry eyes before having LASIK surgery, and the specialist doctor prefers in this case to treat the dry eyes before the operation. The doctor uses tests to determine the stage of dry eyes, and if the eye dryness is severe, then having LASIK is a bad idea because it is certain that an increase in dry eyes will occur after the operation.
LASIK may cause a disturbance in the nerves of the eye, which leads to a loss of dry eye sensation during the first days after the operation, as symptoms of dry eye appear during the recovery phase. Even though you may not feel dry in this situation, you must keep using eye drops.
Methods of treating dry eyes after LASIK
One of the side effects of LASIK is dry eye after surgery, which the specialised doctor can treat with some medications and practises that may lessen the severity of dry eye both before and after LASIK:
- Use prescription eye drops .
- Apply eye drops that do not contain preservatives.
- Take some supplements that contain flaxseed oil or fish oil.
- Use of some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroid drops, in some cases prescribed by the doctor.
- Use small silicone plugs for the tear duct to prevent tear drainage.
Tips for relieving dry eyes after LASIK
Here are some potential remedies for LASIK-related dry eyes:
- Regularly check your eyes: The specialised doctor examines your eyes to rule out any further reasons of dry eyes, as these can delay the healing process. Dry eyes can also slow down healing.
- Examine the medication's side effects: Antihistamine allergy medications exacerbate the problem of dry eyes, so you should check all medications used.
- Take in your daily water requirements to prevent dehydration in the eyes and throughout the body. If you suffer from dehydration in your body as a result of inadequate water intake, this may result in dry eyes.
- Avoid exposure to dry weather: After the LASIK operation, try not to be exposed to dry weather or the sun, and not to be exposed to the air directly. When going outside, sunglasses are advised.
- Use moisturising eye drops frequently, even if your eyes don't feel dry, to moisturise your eyes.
Other side effects of LASIK
The following are the most significant probable LASIK adverse effects:
1. Correction defect during LASIK
This is because each person has biological traits that are unique, or because each person's corneal tissues react differently. When less tissue is removed, the correction is insufficient, and when more tissue is removed than is necessary, the correction is greater.
2. The development of halos and issues with night vision following LASIK
The most common side effects are usually a person seeing halos or rings of light and having trouble seeing at night, or night blindness. Usually, these symptoms disappear after a few weeks.