What Are the Best Comfort Eye Drops for Dry Eyes After Eye Surgery or After LASIK Laser Vision Correction?

It is normal to have dry eye symptoms for the first few months after laser eye correction (LASIK, SMILE or transPRK). This is due to the corneal nerve healing and all patients should expect to need to use artificial tears for the first 3 months.

For those who had recently had cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange, dry eyes symptoms or blepharitis, can occur after treatment especially where there is pre-existing dry eye or blepharitis and may require additional management after surgery. For all patients, dry eye and blepharitis typically worsens with age and is common in previous long-term contact lens wearers.

There are many different lubricating eye drops available and preservative free eye drops are preferred after eye surgery as these are more gentle on the eye. All artificial tears drops are available over-the-counter, meaning a prescription is not needed and they can be used as often as needed – so 3-4 times a day or every couple of hours if your symptoms are more marked as is usually the case for the first few weeks after surgery.

The best preservative free lubricating eye drops for daytime use are Hyabak, Theloz Duo or Hyloforte (which is a bit thicker and longer lasting).

For those on a budget Carbomer gel eye drops cannot be beaten.

A long-lasting eye ointment such Hylo Night (VitAPOS) is best used last thing at night keeps the eye lubricated overnight but can smear the vision a little.

Dry symptoms will be made worse by another eye condition called blepharitis. This is inflammation of the eyelids and blockage of the pores that produce the natural oils that lubricate the eyes. Eye surgery does not cause blepharitis and it must be controlled both before and after any eye surgery. It is important to keep your eyelids clean after eye surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Daily use of sterile eyelid wipes such as Blephaclean will help this. Simple daily routine changes that help optimise eyelid hygiene can be very in helping to treat any blepharitis and so help dry eye symptoms.