Experiencing dry eyes after the surgery is very common during the recovery period. This is a part of the healing process of the cornea. People already having dry eye before the surgery needs to be...

Experiencing dry eyes after the surgery is very common during the recovery period. This is a part of the healing process of the cornea. People already having dry eye before the surgery needs to be tested completely before they go for the surgery. Because in many cases the situation becomes worse after the treatment for those with dry eye problems already existing previously. The possible symptoms faced during this time are burning and irritation of the eye. It takes several months to recover back to normal levels.

Refractive Surgery is associated with the risk of dry eye. With proper medicines and eye drops, the problem of dry eye after the surgery can be overcomed and recovered within sometime. Your eyes will need sometime to get well and recover after the refractive surgery.

Some Symptoms of Dry Eyes after the Refractive Surgery

1. A burning sensation in the eyes
2. Light sensitivity
3. A sandy or a gritty feeling in the eyes
4. A foreign body sensation like there is something in your eye
5. Feeling of “heaviness” in the eyes
6. An irregular pain in the eyes

Why do these symptoms appear after the refractive surgery?

1. Severed Nerves- This is because of the corneal flap which is created during the surgery. Some corneal nerves providing response to the tear glands are severed. Hence there is a reduction in the tear flow to the eyes. As the eyes start healing after the surgery, the nerve endings of the cornea restore themselves and the tear percentage slowly returns to the normal levels, causing the dry eye symptoms to disappear.

2. Devitalized goblet cells- The goblet cells which are responsible for surface wetting are injured when the microkeratome suction ring is inserted in the eye. These cells take some time to redevelop.

3. Incomplete blinking and closing of the eyelids- Knowingly or unknowingly many people do not close their eyes completely while sleeping as well as blinking. This is a problematic situation in patients who have undergone a surgery for “droopy eyelids”. Hence the eye is more vulnerable to irritation and drying. Those with incomplete blinking and lid closure face more problems of dryness after the refractive surgery.

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