Why laser can dry the eyes
The cornea is full of nerves that tell the eye to make tears. Laser cuts some of them, so the eye makes fewer tears until they grow back. A LASIK flap cuts through more of them, which is why surgeons often suggest surface treatment or SMILE for drier eyes. An implantable lens leaves the cornea alone.
What it feels like and how long it lasts
Gritty, scratchy, tired eyes, worse in the evening, on screens, in heated rooms and in wind. Sight can blur and clear with blinking. For most people it fades over three to six months. A small number of people have dry eye that lasts, and a few find it severe.
If your eyes are already dry
- Tell the clinic, and stop contact lenses for as long as they ask before the tests.
- Expect tear tests at the assessment; some clinics treat dry eye first and treat the eyes later.
- Ask whether surface treatment, SMILE or an implantable lens would be gentler on your tears than LASIK.
Looking after your eyes afterwards
- Use the lubricating drops you are given, often and before you feel dry.
- Take screen breaks and blink fully.
- Keep the air moist where you can and avoid fans and car vents blowing on your face.
- Go back to the clinic if it isn't easing after a few months: there are treatments beyond drops.
Questions people ask
Can I have laser eye surgery with dry eyes?
Often, yes, once the dryness is treated and measured. Severe dry eye may rule laser out, and an implantable lens may be offered instead.
Does SMILE cause less dry eye than LASIK?
SMILE and surface treatment cut fewer corneal nerves than a LASIK flap, which is why surgeons often suggest them for drier eyes.
Is dry eye after LASIK permanent?
For most people, no: it usually settles within three to six months. For a few it lasts, which is why the assessment checks your tears first.