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Lasik and Dry Eyes
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LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In
Situ Keratomileusis. It is a surgical procedure intended to
reduce a person’s dependency on glasses and contact lenses. It does
this by permanently changing the shape of the cornea (the clear
covering of the front of the eye). Patients are awake and mobile
during the surgery, although they are administered a local sedative.
The operation proceeds as follows:
A corneal suction ring is applied
to the eye.
A microkeratome (laser knife) is
used to cut a flap (with a hinge remaining at one end) in the
cornea.
The flap is folded back revealing
the stroma (mid-section of the cornea).
Portions of the stroma are
vaporized using a computer controlled laser (excimer laser), thus
changing the shape of the cornea.
The flap is replaced.
Post-operative
care for LASIK eye surgery patients involves a course of
anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops. Dark goggles are also
worn for a period of time as a protection from bright light.
Protective shields are also used to prevent the person from rubbing
their eyes while sleeping.
All LASIK patients will experience dry
eyes to some extent after surgery. Most patients, however, will not
notice it to any appreciable degree. Some patients, however, may
experience painful dry eyes after LASIK surgery. Those with a
pre-existing dry eye problem may find the condition exacerbated. The
LASIK surgical procedure creates a thin layer of tissue, which is
called a flap. Laser energy is applied under this flap to reshape the
cornea in order to correct the patient’s eyesight problem. When the
flap is created it is possible that the minute nerves of the cornea
may be severed. These nerves are vital to the signaling process that
‘tells’ the lacrimal gland to produce more tears. In time the
nerves re-establish themselves. Dry eye syndrome after LASIK surgery,
then, is generally a temporary condition. It will usually not last
for more than a few months after surgery.
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