What To Do With Dry Eye After Lasik
Lasik eye surgery is for people who are nearsighted or
farsighted and have astigmatism. This surgery changes the
curvature of the cornea, which is the outermost part of the eye.
This allows the person to see without the need for glasses or
contacts.
Most people have no trouble with their vision correction
surgery. Less than 1% of people who have this type of surgery
done actually experience any side effects. It is done on an
outpatient basis and most people can return to work and to their
usual activities the day after surgery. As with any surgery,
there is always the risk of side effects. One of the possible
Lasik complications is having chronic dry eyes after Lasik
surgery. This is the most common complaint of patients who have
had eye surgery. The reason for this is that vision correction
surgery reduces the amount of lubrication that a patient's eyes
normally receive.
Dry eye problems can run the spectrum from less serious to more
serious. A patient can experience itching, redness, and even
pain after vision correction surgery. For some the problem is
minor and can be solved with artificial teardrops or other types
of drops or topical treatments for the eyes. Other people find
that taking flax seed oil caplets helps, and that using a
humidifier in their home also relieves that dry, scratchy
feeling. For many patients, their eyes return to their normal or
near normal lubrication levels in the weeks and months following
their eye surgery.
If the dry eye problem is more serious, a tiny plug can be
inserted that prevents tears from going to the nose and
therefore allows for more lubrication in the eye. This plug can
be removed in the future if the dry eye problem is resolved.
The best way to avoid any Lasik complications or side effects is
to choose your ophthalmologist wisely. Make sure that they have
the proper credentials and have done a large number of
successful vision correction surgeries. Do not be swayed by
discount offers on Lasik that seem too good to be true. You
should always have a consultation with your surgeon prior to
having any kind of surgery. A good surgeon will be able to tell
you if you are a good candidate for this type of surgery, and
will let you know if you would not benefit from Lasik. An
experienced ophthalmologist will also be able to help you if you
do experience dry eyes after Lasik surgery, they will be able to
help you deal with the problem and lessen your discomfort until
the problem is resolved. To get quality vision correction
surgery, you need to be willing to pay a competitive price for
it and do your homework when choosing a doctor.