Can I get LASIK if I have dry eyes?

Are you tired of wearing glasses and contacts? LASIK surgery is a popular and effective way to improve your vision without glasses and contact lenses permanently,¹https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642016300963 but what if you have dry eyes? Can you still get LASIK? The short answer is yes, but there are some important factors to consider. In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between LASIK and dry eyes and what you need to know before scheduling your procedure.

What causes dry eyes?

When your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly, it leads to dry eyes. There are several reasons why this may occur, such as age, hormonal changes, certain medications, underlying medical conditions, or environmental factors ²https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002939408003863

What is LASIK?

LASIK works by reshaping the cornea, which changes the way your eye focuses light. During the procedure, we create a small flap on the cornea with a laser, and the underlying tissue is removed to reshape your cornea. We then replace the flap so it can heal. The whole process takes only a few minutes ³https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA83911029&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=07445121&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Ebee4908c and you can expect to see immediate results.

Is LASIK suitable for dry eyes?

LASIK can exacerbate dry eyes for some people. The creation of the corneal flap can disturb the nerve endings in the cornea, which may affect the natural production of tears.

Additionally, after LASIK, many patients experience temporary dryness as their eyes adjust to the new corneal shape. Therefore, it’s crucial to have your dry eyes under control before getting LASIK surgery.

Before LASIK, we will perform a thorough evaluation to assess your suitability for the procedure. We will check your vision prescription, eye anatomy, and tear film quality.

If you have dry eyes, we may recommend treatment options such as artificial tears, prescription eye drops, or punctal plugs to close the tear ducts and conserve tears. Treating dry eyes before LASIK can improve your comfort.

It’s worth noting that some patients with severe dry eyes may not be good candidates for LASIK.

In rare cases, the irritation and inflammation caused by dry eyes can interfere with the healing process after LASIK, potentially leading to complications such as corneal scarring or other vision problems. In such instances, we may suggest alternative options, such as ICL surgery SmartSight, two other types of eye surgery that do not involve creating a corneal flap.

If you have dry eyes, you may still be a candidate for LASIK, but it’s critical to manage your dry eye symptoms before and after the procedure. Work with your eye doctor to develop an individualised plan to maximise your chances for a successful outcome.

Remember, LASIK is a safe and effective way to improve your vision, but your eye health should always be the top priority. Book a free assessment with us to find out more about LASIK surgery.