LASIK Patients: Remain on the Lookout for Dry Eye

Why Can LASIK Lead to Dry Eyes?

LASIK and other vision correction procedures involve penetration of the eye surface, which can lead to reduced corneal nerve sensitivity. Dry eye can result if your eyes struggle to sense when they need to produce tear lubrication after the surgery.

Who Is Most At Risk?

Dry eye is a common side effect of LASIK surgery for both people who suffer from the condition before the procedure and those who have never experienced dry eye. However, those with higher degrees of myopia tend to be more at risk for dry eye because these patients require a deeper removal of corneal tissue to reshape the eye. More significantly, for 25% of patients, dry eye symptoms are found to persist for up to six months after surgery. Older age, certain allergies, autoimmune diseases can also contribute to dry eye, so patients who fit these criteria should be extra aware of the potential dry eye side effects of these procedures.

So What Should You Do?

Doctors often recommend that patients attempt to treat current dry eye conditions before undergoing LASIK. In addition, doctors may recommend that even patients with normal tear production use dry eye treatments as a preventative measure before surgery. People with and without dry eye might be encouraged to take fish oil supplements in the weeks before surgery in order to improve the tear film. MedOp carries a product called MaxiTears containing Omega-3 fish oils that is specifically formulated for dry eye sufferers looking to improve their tear production. After surgery, patients might find relief by using EyeEco’s soft flexible goggles called Tranquileyes. The product comes with reusable gel packs to be used within the goggles that provide eye hydrating therapy to soothe and restore dry, tired eyes. The goggles create a humid, warm environment around the eyes to helps stimulate tear production and slow the evaporation of tears. Of course, dry eye relief may be found through a number of options. For ideas on how to combat dry eye, especially during these summer months, check out our blog "Beat Your Dry Eye This Summer". 

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Makeup Application for Those Affected by Dry Eye

Women are three times more likely to be affected by dry eye than men. This is partially due to hormonal changes in our body to the fact that we are constantly putting foreign bodies into our eyes via eye makeup. Fortunately, there are tricks and tips you can follow to make sure those smoky eyes do not become rabbit eyes by the end of the night.

 

If you suffer from severe dry eye, avoiding eye makeup completely may be the safest option. However, this does not mean that you cannot have beautiful nude eyes. A little bit of attention to the rest of your makeup can do wonders. Instead of using mascara, consider how an eyelash curler can give you that full lash look without the irritation. The right shade of lipstick and blush can also help to emphasize your eyes without going anywhere near them. You can keep your lipstick look relatively natural while still bringing an element of drama to your face. Go for an after-exercise flush when applying blush.

If you only suffer from mild to moderate dry eye and would still  like to wear eye makeup, consider these tips. Avoid powder eye shadow in favor of creams as powder can travel and irritate the eyes while cream eye shadow will stick in place. If you choose to use liquid eye shadow, eyeliners, and/or mascara, make sure the product is alcohol free. Also, do not use waterproof makeup. The traditional methods for removing waterproof makeup such as Vaseline and baby oil will leave residue around the eyelid and this residue is then spread all over the eye. Also, do not ever share eye makeup or use expired items. Cross contamination is a real problem and with dry eye, even the tiniest infection can become a big cause for concern. 

Once you have the appropriate eye makeup, follow the tricks below to minimize possible discomfort during and after application. If you are using Restasis or other types of natural eye drops, shoot to apply these a half an hour before you do your makeup. Moist eyes will help to make the process as pain free as possible. When using mascara, make sure to apply from the tips rather than from the root of your lashes. In general, you should make sure to avoid the lid margin when applying any type of eye make up.

The last and most important step for dry eye sufferers (and those without dry eyes) is cleansing. Proper makeup removal is absolutely key to preventing irritation. Ocusoft lid scrubs are currently one of the best products on the market for dry eye makeup removal. Ocusoft offers products that come in both bottled liquid and pad forms. The product is gentle enough for daily use and will not irritate the eyelids. It is both lint and fragrance free so you can be sure that it will not worsen your dry eye condition. Pick up Ocusoft products at your local drug store or ask your eye doctor for a sample. The company is even now offering specialized mascara for dry eye sufferers!

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Understanding Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and What to do about Dry Eye

What is MDG?

A major cause of dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Essentially, the edges of our eyelids are covered in small glands called meibomian glands, which contain lipids. These glands are important in smoothing the tear surface to slow down evaporation of eye moisture. Hence, when these glands fail to produce enough oil, the moist layer of our eyes evaporates too quickly leading to dry eye symptoms. Often when these glands struggle to produce adequate oil it is because they are clogged. In addition, the edges of the eyelids where the glands sit may be inflamed, which is characteristic of a common condition called blepharitis.

How Should It Be Treated?

According to the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, one suggested treatment from MDG is to use lid scrubs to engage in proper eyelid hygiene. Lid scrubs are essential to cleaning external meibomian gland blockages caused by epithelial overgrowth. They are used on the lid margin, just over the gland orifices to halt this overgrowth and to prevent other external substances from clogging the glands. Overtime, lid scrubs have been proven to improve tear-film break up time, and have also been shown to relieve blepharitis.

There are many lid scrubs on the market, but Ocusoft brand offers some of the best. Ocusoft lid scrub plus has a unique leave-on formula which prolongs contact maximizing the bacterial time kill eradicating seven different strains of bacteria common to the eyelids. They have also demonstrated lower eye irritation scores than their competitors.

In addition, the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction suggests the use of liposome sprays. The study tested multiple treatments and phospholipid liposomal sprays achieved the greatest reduction of lid margin inflammation and improvement in tear film break-up time when compared with hyaluronate eye drops and triglyceride gels.

One of the leading lipsome sprays on the market is offered by Ocusoft brand. Their Advanced Liposome Spray formula is recommended for patients with eyelid irritation and mild dry eye. The product also includes vital nutrients and antioxidants to promote general eye health. Both the Ocusoft lid scrubs and liposome sprays are available in most markets.

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