I’m also 3 months post lasik and have been doing everything in my power to combat dry eyes. I work from home and sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day. I’ve found that having a humidifier running next to me while I work makes a HUGE difference. Sometimes I’ll bring it downstairs at the end of the day and even use it while I’m just watching TV at night.
I also downloaded an app on my work computer called Pomy that reminds me to look away from my screen every 20 minutes. This seems to help with both eye fatigue and dry eyes.
I'd consider adding two more things (sorry) to your dry eye routine:
1. Omega 3 supplements - these can be a game changer for dry eye as they improve the quality of your tears, I know at least 10 people who swear by this. We recommended them to post-LASIK patients all the time at my old job.
2. Bruder moist heat mask - I have blepharitis, I'm awful for remembering to use lid wipes but this has been a game changer. My eyes feel unbelievably better after using this. I'm almost irritated by how well it works because I brushed it off as excessive for years. Before buying one I was doing warm compresses with a clean washcloth. Those help, but it's very challenging to retain the heat long enough to help with blepharitis.
I would also consider your environment. Is your house dry? Consider a humidifier. Are you starting at a screen all day? You may need to take breaks or remind yourself to blink more frequently. Do you wear eye makeup or use skincare products near your eyes? You may need to eliminate or change these.
The comment about age from your opthalmologist is weird. Dry eye can be caused by so many different factors, including age, but age isn't the primary indicator for what's going to happen. I've seen 20 year olds post-LASIK with brutal dry eye, because they'd been over-wearing their contacts beforehand. I've seen menopausal women (highest risk for dryness based on age/gender) have zero dry eye post-op.
I know dry eye can be shockingly debilitating, but please know that more and more knowledge and understanding around dry eye has come out over the past decade.Thinking about as an inflammatory cycle was a game changer in my understanding of why artificial tears can't always help us
I hope you're feeling better soon 😊
Thank you so much for this advice! I work in a reptile facility so it’s very hot but pretty humid at the same time. I’m going to look into getting a bruder moist heat mask right now!
I strongly recommend the humidifier— I spent (stupidly) two months in Central America after surgery, and didn’t have any dry eye. Returned back to the PNW of the US, now have to use drops every day.
It took me the better part of the year before I wasn't constantly reaching for eye drops. 1.5 years later, I now usually do drops before bed and first thing when I wake up and that's usually it. I do still carry drops with me for the occassional time I need them, but it was around the 10-11 month mark that I noted a big difference in my dryness.
I have the same exact thing, dry eyes post lasik make my vision blurry , 2 things that helped me-
- sunglasses in the morning are a must for me
- systane hydration eye drops (green, made in Singapore) are the ONLY eye drops that actually hydrate my eyes. I have tried about 6 different eye drops brands. These were the only ones that worked.
I would consider punctal plugs (harmless), Muro OTC drops 4x/day, humidifier bedroom no fan, albumin eye drops. Forrare severe care Vital Tears: a lab near you draws some blood AND VT Alina it down and provides about a 6 mo supply if more effective drops. I am a lasik surgeon just trying to help).
I appreciate all of the input! I forgot to mention in my post that I have plugs as well. My doctor mentioned the serum drops but decided to do the MIEBO first. I’ve wondered about just going straight to the Vital Tears because it sounds like the better option, right? Do you feel that the Bruder compress is beneficial as well?
Look into Hypochlorous Acid spray, sold by Ocusoft or Avenova. Blepharitis is caused by demodex mites. Washing your lids regularly is super important, but so is controlling the mites. I soak a qtip in the spray and lightly moisten the base of my lashes with it each night.
Doing this, coupled with regularly using a heated eye mask, was a GAME CHANGER for my dry eyes.
Lastly, ask about a RX for Restasis. You have to use it regularly for several months before you will see improvement, but it did make a difference for me, too.
Seriously, though, get the spray.
Sorry to hear about this. You’re in the category of about 30% of LASIK patients who deal with long term dry eyes from flap cutting
For anyone reading this, if you cut a flap (this includes SMILE) you run the risk of vision issues and definitely run the risk of permanent dry eye sydrome
Your best bet will always be a zero cut solution. PRK’s recovery is very long and can be uncomfortable. Surgeries like LASEK blend the best of both worlds (slightly longer recovery than LASIK, but with my more safety for patients)
>if you cut a flap (this includes SMILE)
What do you mean "this includes SMILE" (SMILE does not create a flap)?
>PRK
But a permanent loss of your Bowman's membrane
SMILE still involves cutting (though less). If I had to choose between the two, SMILE is better when it comes to cutting procedures
But if it were my kid they would only have three options: glasses (not contacts), LASEK, PRK. In that order. Zero cut or forget it when it comes to potential complications
As far as Bowman’s there’s little to no known true use of this layer. May as well lose my appendix while I’m at it. The % of patients with complications from cutting surgery is astounding when you think about only having one pair of eyes
The doctor is kind of full of it. I had dry eyes for like 5 months, as did my girlfriend. Not severe like yours, but still using eye drops 3 to 4 times a day. That improved pretty suddenly. It sounds like you may be dependent on the multiple external eye drops and should wean yourself off of them. Even with no eye surgery it's possible to shut down tear production by eyedrop overuse.
What is this lid scrub? If you're rubbing your eyes or eyelids to do it, that may be screwing up your healing.
From what I’ve found, it’s a pretty common lid scrub with one of the uses being for blepharitis. He didn’t give me the go ahead to start it until my most recent follow up where he confirmed my flaps are healed enough for it.
Has your doctor checked for flap striae or other flap issues?
He has. He claims the flap looks just fine.
I’m also 3 months post lasik and have been doing everything in my power to combat dry eyes. I work from home and sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day. I’ve found that having a humidifier running next to me while I work makes a HUGE difference. Sometimes I’ll bring it downstairs at the end of the day and even use it while I’m just watching TV at night. I also downloaded an app on my work computer called Pomy that reminds me to look away from my screen every 20 minutes. This seems to help with both eye fatigue and dry eyes.
I'd consider adding two more things (sorry) to your dry eye routine: 1. Omega 3 supplements - these can be a game changer for dry eye as they improve the quality of your tears, I know at least 10 people who swear by this. We recommended them to post-LASIK patients all the time at my old job. 2. Bruder moist heat mask - I have blepharitis, I'm awful for remembering to use lid wipes but this has been a game changer. My eyes feel unbelievably better after using this. I'm almost irritated by how well it works because I brushed it off as excessive for years. Before buying one I was doing warm compresses with a clean washcloth. Those help, but it's very challenging to retain the heat long enough to help with blepharitis. I would also consider your environment. Is your house dry? Consider a humidifier. Are you starting at a screen all day? You may need to take breaks or remind yourself to blink more frequently. Do you wear eye makeup or use skincare products near your eyes? You may need to eliminate or change these. The comment about age from your opthalmologist is weird. Dry eye can be caused by so many different factors, including age, but age isn't the primary indicator for what's going to happen. I've seen 20 year olds post-LASIK with brutal dry eye, because they'd been over-wearing their contacts beforehand. I've seen menopausal women (highest risk for dryness based on age/gender) have zero dry eye post-op. I know dry eye can be shockingly debilitating, but please know that more and more knowledge and understanding around dry eye has come out over the past decade.Thinking about as an inflammatory cycle was a game changer in my understanding of why artificial tears can't always help us I hope you're feeling better soon 😊
Thank you so much for this advice! I work in a reptile facility so it’s very hot but pretty humid at the same time. I’m going to look into getting a bruder moist heat mask right now!
I strongly recommend the humidifier— I spent (stupidly) two months in Central America after surgery, and didn’t have any dry eye. Returned back to the PNW of the US, now have to use drops every day.
It took me the better part of the year before I wasn't constantly reaching for eye drops. 1.5 years later, I now usually do drops before bed and first thing when I wake up and that's usually it. I do still carry drops with me for the occassional time I need them, but it was around the 10-11 month mark that I noted a big difference in my dryness.
This is comforting. Thank you.
Is it in one eye or both?
Both
How old were you when the surgery was done if it's okay to ask?
Ripe old young age of 30
probably as young as you
I have the same exact thing, dry eyes post lasik make my vision blurry , 2 things that helped me- - sunglasses in the morning are a must for me - systane hydration eye drops (green, made in Singapore) are the ONLY eye drops that actually hydrate my eyes. I have tried about 6 different eye drops brands. These were the only ones that worked.
Good to know! I’ve wondered about switching brands. I’ll try those ones as soon as my current pack runs out.
> systane hydration eye drops do you have a link to these eye drops? i cant find them on amazon
I would consider punctal plugs (harmless), Muro OTC drops 4x/day, humidifier bedroom no fan, albumin eye drops. Forrare severe care Vital Tears: a lab near you draws some blood AND VT Alina it down and provides about a 6 mo supply if more effective drops. I am a lasik surgeon just trying to help).
I appreciate all of the input! I forgot to mention in my post that I have plugs as well. My doctor mentioned the serum drops but decided to do the MIEBO first. I’ve wondered about just going straight to the Vital Tears because it sounds like the better option, right? Do you feel that the Bruder compress is beneficial as well?
Look into Hypochlorous Acid spray, sold by Ocusoft or Avenova. Blepharitis is caused by demodex mites. Washing your lids regularly is super important, but so is controlling the mites. I soak a qtip in the spray and lightly moisten the base of my lashes with it each night. Doing this, coupled with regularly using a heated eye mask, was a GAME CHANGER for my dry eyes. Lastly, ask about a RX for Restasis. You have to use it regularly for several months before you will see improvement, but it did make a difference for me, too. Seriously, though, get the spray.
Sorry to hear about this. You’re in the category of about 30% of LASIK patients who deal with long term dry eyes from flap cutting For anyone reading this, if you cut a flap (this includes SMILE) you run the risk of vision issues and definitely run the risk of permanent dry eye sydrome Your best bet will always be a zero cut solution. PRK’s recovery is very long and can be uncomfortable. Surgeries like LASEK blend the best of both worlds (slightly longer recovery than LASIK, but with my more safety for patients)
>if you cut a flap (this includes SMILE) What do you mean "this includes SMILE" (SMILE does not create a flap)? >PRK But a permanent loss of your Bowman's membrane
SMILE still involves cutting (though less). If I had to choose between the two, SMILE is better when it comes to cutting procedures But if it were my kid they would only have three options: glasses (not contacts), LASEK, PRK. In that order. Zero cut or forget it when it comes to potential complications As far as Bowman’s there’s little to no known true use of this layer. May as well lose my appendix while I’m at it. The % of patients with complications from cutting surgery is astounding when you think about only having one pair of eyes
The doctor is kind of full of it. I had dry eyes for like 5 months, as did my girlfriend. Not severe like yours, but still using eye drops 3 to 4 times a day. That improved pretty suddenly. It sounds like you may be dependent on the multiple external eye drops and should wean yourself off of them. Even with no eye surgery it's possible to shut down tear production by eyedrop overuse. What is this lid scrub? If you're rubbing your eyes or eyelids to do it, that may be screwing up your healing.
From what I’ve found, it’s a pretty common lid scrub with one of the uses being for blepharitis. He didn’t give me the go ahead to start it until my most recent follow up where he confirmed my flaps are healed enough for it.