I had LASIK surgery about 5 years ago since then my eyes have become uncomfortably dry. Is this normal?

Question

I have tries many different types if drops but not found a cure for this problem

Brian Davis, MD · Answer

Although dryness this long after lasik is not normal, it does occur in some patients. Generally dryness after Lasik is common during the first year following surgery. This is due in part to the corneal nerves that are cut or damaged with the surgery. These nerves normally regrow during the first year after the procedure and the patient returns to their baseline level of dryness. Tear production diminishes with age and some people are dry prior to their surgery and are unaware. So the dryness may occur as a person ages without having Lasik. Certainly Lasik does worsen the dryness for a period of time and may contribute to long term dryness. Dryness is often mistreated by patients. Many take the attitude of treating the dryness when the eyes feel dry or irritated. When you do this you are too late, because the cells on the surface of the eye begin to die and they only return when the surface is made healthy again. This requires frequent consistent artificial tear drops. If these artificial tears are used more than four times a day they ought to be preservative-free because the preservative can be toxic to the eye if used more than four times a day. You ought to use the artificial drops regularly and before the eyes feel irritated and since there is no cure for dryness you may need to do this forevermore. Best of luck with your dryness. I see a lot of dry eye patients. You are not alone.

Mazin Yaldo, MD · Answer

It is certainly possible for LASIK
to cause dryness of the eyes, however usually it will occur within weeks of
your surgery, not five years later. 
More likely your dryness is something that would have happened even had
you not undergone LASIK.  Dryness
occurs more frequently as people get older.  It can also occur with certain medication usage, and as a
symptom of various eye and even systemic diseases.  I would recommend you have a thorough eye examination with
your ophthalmologist to see if there is an underlying reason for your dryness,
as well as to get you proper treatment for the problem.  When artificial tear eyedrops don’t
work, other option can be considered such as nighttime lubricating ointments,
placement of punctual occlusion plugs, and the prescription eyedrop Restasis.

Hope this helps.

I had LASIK surgery about 5 years ago since then my eyes have become uncomfortably dry. Is this normal?

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