Will I have to use eyedrops forever due to dry eyes after PRK surgery?

Question

I had a PRK surgery 15 months ago. I still use eye drops (Hyabuak) because I feel my eyes dry.I would like to know if I will use eye drops for all of my life. What is more, if it is logical to see better from one eye. Furthermore, sometimes I feel a little pain in my eyes. This one is appeared last 2 months. Maybe because I join in army and here the enviroment is not so clear.

Michael K. Tracy, MD · Answer

Dry eyes almost always resolve six months to a year after PRK.  If your dry eyes persist you may have other risk factors such as allergies, ocular rosacea or floppy eyelid syndrome.  This could also be the cause of your eye pain.  The two eyes are usually very similar in vision after 15 months.  Since your symptoms are new, the best first step is to see your surgeon.  If you have dry eyes, he can recommend appropriate treatments depending on the severity from punctual plugs to Restasis to Intense Pulsed Light Therapy.  He can also treat allergic conjunctivitis from seasonal allergies which sounds possible since your symptoms have occurred so long after surgery.

Will I have to use eyedrops forever due to dry eyes after PRK surgery?

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