What can be done about Dry Eye After LASIK Surgery?

Dry Eye is the single most common undesirable side-effect of LASIK and PRK. It occurs probably 100% of the time, if only in the near post-op period (3 months). LASIK does not affect your lacrimal glands directly, however. The cause is the unavoidable damage to the corneal sensory nerves during the laser treatment itself. All tearing in eyes is a response to some degree of irritation/stimulation of the cornea. So until those nerves regenerate, the lacrimal glands are not getting a full signal upon which to base the volume of tear release.Fortunately most people have normal tearing. The decrease is temporary and responds well to non-prescription artificial tears and lubricants used during that post-op period.