Dry Eyes and LASIK

About half of patients who had LASIK surgery tend to report having dry eyes after the surgery. While the condition is temporary and mild, significant numbers of people continue to have dry eyes for months or even years after a procedure.

But to keep the problem in perspective, many people who seek LASIK already have dry eyes. For instance, contact lens wearers who find their lenses uncomfortable because of dry eyes may investigate laser vision correction surgery as an alternative.

How Does LASIK Cause Dry Eyes?

In certain cases, LASIK and other vision correction procedures can cause dry eyes after they penetrate the eye's surface and reduce corneal nerve sensitivity. Inadequate tear production results when your eyes then fail to sense the need for lubrication.

Dry eyes after LASIK can cause not only discomfort but less than optimal visual outcomes. For this reason, many eye surgeons recommend that you use lubricating eye drops or other treatments to help maintain eye moisture in advance of a LASIK procedure even if you don't have any sign of dry eyes.

Dry eye condition can be detected by monitoring the quality and the quantity of tears you produce. Such screening can be done during the comprehensive eye examination which precedes a LASIK procedure in order to assess you as a possible candidate for LASIK. Having dry eyes prior to a LASIK procedure will not automatically eliminate you as a candidate. But your eye doctor will need to consider the severity of your condition and the possibility of effective treatment before recommending a procedure.

Treatment of Dry Eyes Before and After LASIK

Your eye doctor may treat you for dry eyes prior to a LASIK procedure as a precaution, even your tear production is normal. You may be advised to take flaxseed oil or fish oil orally for several weeks before your vision correction surgery to improve your tear film. You also may need to use lubricating eye drops before and after a LASIK procedure.

After LASIK, your surgeon may recommend prescription eye drops such as Cyclosporine (Restasis) that help your body formulate tears. Cyclosporine actually has been found to quicken the recovery of corneal sensitivity after LASIK an thus return the eye to normal moisture. Furthermore, other common dry eye remedies include punctal plugs, which block tear drainage channels to increase moisture on the eye, and anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids administered as eye drops.

Studies indicate that taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements and eating food containing these "good fats," such as salmon, can help maintain a healthy tear film. Drinking plenty of water also can keep your body and your eyes properly hydrated.

Again, keep in mind that many dry eye symptoms following a refractive surgery procedure usually are relatively mild and disappear in time. It is best to be aware of the possibility of developing such a condition so that you will be prepared to prevent it before and after getting LASIK done.


If your considering getting a vision correction surgery in Korea and are concerned about your eye condition including dry eyes, feel free to consult with our staff at Kangnam Joeunnun International Eye Center. A thorough eye examination prior to choosing a treatment option is essential to maximize surgery outcomes and minimize side-effects. Get a free eye exam and consultation at our hospital where our experienced doctor provides exceptional medical services in LASIK and LASEK eye surgery.

Refer to the following pages for more information.
Google blog: http://bit/ly/1ERE26C
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lasikinkorea
English website: http://www.visionclinic.co.kr/eng

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Emma Nam
Kangnam Joeunnun International Eye Center
dongnam2016@gmail.com
Tel: 02-535-8001 / 010-7733-3964


*Source: www.allaboutvision.com