While Lasik surgery is a general procedure, there is usually an increase in post Lasik dry eye after surgical procedure. Usually, post Lasik dry eye lasts six to twelve months. If your eyes are well hydrated and your eyes are not dry before LASIK surgery, your life will be much easier.
Learn more and see the safest and most effective ways to prevent dry eyes after lasik.
Abstract
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) are many surgical procedures performed on the cornea.
Almost all patients with LASIK surgery develop post-LASIK dry eye, and nearly all develop dry eye during their initial period.
Detecting dry eyes before surgery can improve the quality of care and prevent dry eyes after lasik. Improved LASIK understanding will help us better understand dry eye syndrome.
LASIK Dry Eyes 101: Why do I get them?
You may suffer from dry eyes after Lasik surgery. The cause of dry eyes has yet to be fully understood. LASIK can cause dry eyes to worsen after surgery due to irritation of the cornea. The corneal nerves signal to the tear glands to be moved to action. The results are usually reasonably good after Lasik surgery, and dry eyes typically disappear over time.
Why Theralife
TheraLife® Eye accelerates and aids the healing of damaged corneal nerves and tissue to prevent post lasik dry eye.
It contains potent anti-inflammatory agents to reduce swelling and eliminate dry eye discomfort.
It stimulates tear production glands to produce balanced and normal tears.
How does Theralife Protocol work for post Lasik dry eye?
TheraLife has an oral formula that restores and revives your tear production from the inside out for post Lasik dry eye.
It is clinically proven to work for dry eyes after LASIK.
It speeds tissue recovery after LASIK surgery.
Pre-surgical care
Keep your eyes healthy before LASIK surgery to prevent you from developing dry eyes.
Based on the clinically proven success of TheraLife® Eye- many doctors are now recommending TheraLife® Eye as a pre and post-treatment for patients.
Post-surgical care
- Use TheraLife® Eye post-Lasik surgery to accelerate tissue healing and prevent dry eye after LASIK.
- To speed up dry eye recovery and ensure success. Prevent the development of chronic dry eyes.
- To help reduce the onset and duration of post-Lasik induced dry eye conditions.
What is LASIK Surgery for?
LASIK surgery treats myopia (nearsightedness), myopic, hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Like other types of refractive surgery, LASIK surgery reshapes the cornea to enable light to enter the eye correctly focused onto the retina for clearer vision.
Do you have dry eyes?
What is the cause of dry eyes after Lasik surgery? No one can predict dry eyes during surgery. Generally speaking, the chance increases with aging. Let your eye doctor know if you have chronic dry eye symptoms.
What are the post-LASIK dry eye symptoms?
Dry eye symptoms, which usually affect both eyes, may include
- A stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Eye redness
- A feeling of having something in your eyes
- Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes
- Blurred vision or eye fatigue
How can I prevent blepharitis after the LASIK surgery?
Sadly, it varies by individual.
Why do my eyes dry out?
LASIK surgery damages the cornea. The reason people have dry eyes after Lasik surgery is unknown. But here are some possibilities.
During your treatment, the eye doctor reshapes your cornea. The process occurs when the eye doctor removes the tissue underneath the cornea. The eye doctor will cut off nerve cells in the cornea. Surgery does not affect your eyesight but does affect your cornea’s communication with your other tear production cells – causing decreased tear production. Therefore, your eyes would be dry.
Having Lasik surgery causes dry eye. The change of corneal shape will also affect your eyes and their interaction with the skin of your eye.
LASIK surgery results in dry eyes
Post-Lasik dry eye may affect the perception of the surgical process and patient satisfaction. The refractive surgery effect in people with dry eyes remains reasonably sound. A recent study of a pre-Laser dry eye patient had slightly reduced visual alertness that resolved within one month. Various studies have shown little to no difference between dry eye patients with ocular dry eyes.
How long does dry eye last after Lasik surgery?
According to peer-reviewed journals, dry eye affects approximately 50% of patients one week after LASIK, 40% one month after, and 20% to 40% six months after surgery.
Most patients say their dry eye symptoms improve between six and 12 months after their LASIK procedure.
Dry eye symptoms can be severe for some patients, especially if the patient has high-risk factors such as the pre-existing dry eye.
Dry eye symptoms will reduce over time as the eye heals and begins to make more tears for lubrication.
During this time, the nerves in the eye also regenerate the cornea. The corneal sensation should improve.
Dry eye risk factors & preoperative tear function
Identifying patients at risk for dry eyes before surgery helps improve patient outcomes. LASIK patients should undergo a thorough examination before undergoing an ocular inspection. Other essential aspects of the evaluation are tear breakup time, ocular surface staining, Schirmer test, and ocular surface measurements.
Variations in LASIK surgical technique
Since post-LASIK dry eye is closely related to surgical cutaneous damage to the cornea, the underlying mechanism for the treatment is to modulate the effect. Several LASIK surgeries show variable effects by changing surgeon parameters. FDA-approved femtosecond lasers to fabricate lashes for patients since 2001. This femtosecond laser allows a more precise and safer flap design.
Pathophysiology
Dry eyes after Lasik is an ocular surface disease. Dry eyes have complex multifactorial etiologies. The ocular surface is a functional organ that keeps ocular and tear film environments intact. Ocular surface sensory nerves have complex interactions that modulate tear composition and release. Any factor that disturbs such a relationship, such as a laser eye surgery or tear film concentration, may cause inflammation and apoptosis, giving rise to severe dry eye symptoms.
Post-LASIK tear film
LASIK can cause objectively worsening dry eye clinical symptoms. Multiple studies show reduced tears or tear strength during LASIK surgery. The studies have different lengths of follow-ups, and there’s no uniformly agreed on when these symptoms begin improving. Still, many studies show a 6-12% improvement after surgery. A new prospective study of 96 people with eyes with tear dysfunction found significant differences in basal or reflex tear secretion and tear breakdown times after LASIK.
Post-LASIK corneal nerve morphology
The pattern of subbasal nerve regeneration with the nerve regeneration starting on the peripheral cornea and continuing at the central axis. IvCM is a noninvasive confocal spherical micro-imaging technique used to study sub-basal nerves. A few studies have examined corneal nerve morphologies with this technique after corneal refractive surgery. Short, single nerve fibers are around three months after LASIK. There are a few interconnections among these segments. They will be visible for six months postoperatively.
Post-LASIK corneal sensation
An intense ocular sensation is vital for normal tear production to maintain the ocular surface and lacrimal function units. These ocular sensory receptors control ocular sensation through the ocular division of the trigeminal nerve. It penetrates the retina and forms a dense subbasal nerve plexus containing terminal nerve endings into the epithelium. Corneal denervations may contribute significantly to dry eye after LASIK.
Epidemiology
Dry eyes are common before LASIK surgery in patients with dry eyes due to the intolerant contact lenses. Additional surgery may be necessary to correct retinal errors.
LASIK is considered an eye condition that causes a dry eye symptom. Post-LASIK, most patients report dry eyes symptoms, especially during the early post-operation period. During LASIK, 90% of people experience dry eyes immediately. Dry eyes symptoms occur in up to 60% of the patients one month after LASIK treatment. Unfortunately, some people experience long-term chronic dry eye symptoms after one-year post Lasik surgery.
Post-LASIK dry eye treatment
Most patients with dry eyes after LASIK can use the usual treatment to treat dry eyes.
Artificial tears are the first treatment, mainly when patients use drops at least four times per day insensitive eyes. Unfortunately, artificial tears don’t give enough relief in all cases.
The punctal plugs improve the duration of tear removal after LASIK. Punctal plugs can prevent dry eyes.
Option 1 – Eye Drops
After LASIK, you can find a standard solution for dry eyes in the drugstore eye drops section.
Is there a treatment choice that could help relieve pain or improve pain?
Seek a certified ultra lube and high-performance product to have a better outcome in the post-LASIK eye condition. Ophthalmologists recommend eye drops 1-2 hours after surgery. This high dosage requires a specific awareness: conservatism. It may then reduce when your performance improves.
Autologous serum eye drops
Eye drops made from your blood for more severe dry eye symptoms.
Option 2 – Punctal Occlusion
Using puncture occlusion to treat dry eyes is an innovative solution after LASIK. Using artificial tears instead of natural tears works to block the flow of tears. The theory is that if we leave the tears behind longer, the dry eye symptoms decrease. The eye doctor inserts an enormous plug-in the tear canal. The smallest part of this is less than one cm in width. It does not stop them from leaking and causing tears to drain out of them. Some patients don’t even have to feel it.
Option 3 – Scleral contact lenses
Scleral contact lenses can provide relief for dry eyes after LASIK. The scleral contact lenses are larger than regular contact lenses and cover many eye surfaces. It helps treat dry eyes by providing a smooth surface. Scleral contact lenses keep tears from being absorbed by the cornea and lens.
Scleral contact lenses are made from oxygen permeating materials, giving maximum comfort to the eyes.
For some patients changing the fluid once a day with artificial tears for scleral contact lenses gives greater comfort and stability. Getting good at scleral lenses may require some practice.
Special population: rheumatologic disease
Rheumatoid diseases have high-risk factors for dry eyes after LASIK. Most patients with autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s or rheumatoid arthritis are declined from refractive surgery to prevent corneal damage.
Most patients also are highly susceptible to postoperative dry eye symptoms.
A retrospective study on the control of rheumatic disease in patients treated with LASIK has shown positive outcomes with no vision problems in their eyes despite the risks. Interestingly 14% required eye enhancements ( reading glasses) in the United Kingdom compared to 11% who became very ill.
See a Solution: 7 Tips & Tricks for Preventing Dry Eyes After LASIK
Avoid getting dry eyes after the LASIK treatment. Start seeing solutions now with these seven tips! Use these tips for improved eyesight. See all the beauty the world offers! Are there any concerns after surgery?
1. Drug Store artificial tears
2. Medicated Drops
3. Collagen Punctal Plugs
4. Silicon Punctal Plugs
5. Scleral Contact Lenses
6. Make Sure You’re Hydrated
7. Change Your Diet
Don’t let dry eyes after LASIK surgery slows you down. Instead, start seeing the solution.
See all the beauty our world has to offer in sharper focus than ever before! You can enjoy your renewed eyesight.
The Takeaway: Treating Dry Eyes After LASIK
Dry eyes after LASIK is not very enjoyable but takes a step forward. There have been various treatments for many people. You’re able to sleep with a simple eye treatment without undergoing invasive ocular surgery. Remember that it is normal for dry eye to occur temporarily! After the surgical procedure, your body should return to normal.
