Preservative or non-preservative drops, 1 week post LASIK, is there a difference?

Question

Hi I have been using non-preservative free eye drops (the REFRESH brand) for about 1 week now. I had my LASIK procedure about 1 week ago. Does it matter if I use these as opposed to the preservative-free ones? What can happen if I use the non-preservative free ones?

Jay Bansal, MD · Answer

Preservative free artificial tears are best when you are using the drops aggressively. Drops with preservatives can cause irritation and even more dryness when used more than four times a day. Within the first month of recovery, I recommend using preservative free tears every 2 hours to help with inflammation and to increase your comfort.

Andrew Caster, MD · Answer

Some people have a sensitivity to the preservatives in the moisturizing drops. For these people, preservative-free make a big difference. For most people, there is no difference. Try to regular drops to see how they feel -- they are much less expensive.

Preservative or non-preservative drops, 1 week post LASIK, is there a difference?

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Preservative or non-preservative drops, 1 week post LASIK, is there a difference?

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about LASIK

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.