by It’s no secret that having dry eyes is an uncomfortable feeling. Unfortunately, dry eyes are a common condition that develops when the eyes can’t produce enough quality tears to keep themselves moisturized. This lack of lubrication is what leads to dry eyes and all of the symptoms that come with it, such as a burning and stinging sensation, light sensitivity, and red eyes.
If you have dry eyes and wear glasses or contacts, you may be wondering if you’re still eligible to get an Orange County LASIK procedure. In short, the answer is yes! Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about laser eye surgery and dry eyes, as well as tips to help alleviate your symptoms during recovery.
Can I get LASIK if I have dry eyes?
Since LASIK can worsen dry eye symptoms, many people may feel a little hesitant to get the surgery. While surgeons don’t recommend LASIK for people with severe dry eyes, the truth is that it’s a completely viable procedure for people with mild to moderate symptoms. This is because, in most cases, the dry eye syndrome caused by LASIK resolves itself with time as the eyes heal from surgery. That being said, there is another option: PRK laser eye surgery. PRK is great because there is a decreased risk of dry eyes developing as a result of the surgery compared to LASIK. This has to do with the steps involved in these procedures. During LASIK, a cut is made to your corneal flap, which may aggravate your dry eyes. On the other hand, no such cut is made during PRK, and instead, the entire outer layer of the cornea is extracted.
In both cases, there are precautions your surgeon can take during surgery to assist your dry eyes. If you have dry eyes and are considering a LASIK procedure, make sure you mention the severity of your condition to your surgeon during your pre-operation appointments. That way, they can examine your eyes and deduce which type of corrective eye surgery would be best for you.
How can I treat my dry eyes?
There are plenty of small changes you can make in your daily routine to alleviate dry eyes. If you’re interested in laser eye surgery to improve your vision, these tips can come in especially handy during your recovery period to keep your eyes protected and promote faster healing. Some of these include:
Keep air out of your eyes
Air can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. Try wearing sunglasses when out to protect your eyes and prevent air from blowing into them, especially on windy days. Similarly, when using heaters, air conditioners, or fans, direct the airflow away from your eyes for the same reasons.
Quit smoking
Tobacco smoke can actually damage one’s tear film, causing many smokers to experience dry eyes. So, if you have dry eyes and smoke, you may want to consider quitting. If you don’t smoke, keep your distance from people while they’re smoking to prevent the smoke from entering your eyes.
Use eye drops
Artificial tears are formulated specially to provide moisturization and keep eyes sufficiently lubricated. Because of this, they provide instant relief from dry eye symptoms. There are many eye drops available for purchase, so if you have any questions about which may work best for you, speak to your Orange County LASIK surgeon for recommendations.
Take eye breaks
When doing tasks that require intense concentration from your eyes, such as reading, using electronics, or watching tv, make sure you take breaks. During these breaks, look away from your task, close your eyes for a couple of minutes, and then blink rapidly. Studies show that when we’re involved in an activity that involves visual concentration, we tend to blink less, leading to increased symptoms of dry eyes. These eye breaks help prevent that by giving us an opportunity to replenish the moisture in our eyes.
Change your diet
Water assists with healthy tear production, meaning staying hydrated is very important for those of us with dry eyes. Other nutrients can also aid your eyes in making quality tears, such as Vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamin E.
Check the related article here: https://www.aboutlasiktreatment.com/2019/09/21/dry-eyes-and-lasik/
