Can I get laser eye surgery with dry eyes​?

Can I get laser eye surgery with dry eyes?

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you may have thought about getting laser eye surgery. But if your eyes often feel dry, sore, or gritty, you might wonder, can I still have laser eye surgery?

The short answer is: sometimes. It depends on how dry your eyes are and what’s causing the dryness. This guide explains what you need to know and what happens if you have dry eyes and are thinking about surgery.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes happen when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or when your tears don’t stay on the surface of your eyes long enough.

Healthy eyes need tears to keep the surface smooth and protect against dust and germs. When your tears don’t work properly, your eyes can feel:

• Gritty or scratchy
• Watery (your eyes may actually make more tears to make up for dryness)
• Red or sore
• Tired or uncomfortable after reading or using screens.

Dry eyes are very common, especially in people who use computers often, wear contact lenses, live in dry or windy areas, or take certain medications.

How laser eye surgery affects dry eyes

Laser eye surgery changes the shape of the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, to help you see more clearly.

During the surgery, some tiny nerves in the cornea are affected. These nerves help control how much tear fluid your eyes make. As they heal, your eyes may feel drier than usual for a few weeks or months.

For most people, this dryness is mild and temporary. But if you already have dry eyes before surgery, the symptoms can be stronger or last longer. That’s why your eye doctor will always test your tear film before deciding if laser surgery is safe for you.

Step 1: Eye assessment

Before any laser eye surgery, a full eye exam is done. At Blink Vision Clinic in Canberra, this includes:

• Checking the health of your cornea
• Measuring tear quantity and quality
• Using advanced imaging to look at your tear glands and eye surface

These tests help us understand how dry your eyes are and whether treatment can improve them before surgery.

Step 2: Treating dry eyes before surgery

If you have dry eyes, it doesn’t always mean you can’t have laser eye surgery. In many cases, the dryness can be managed first.

Treatment may include:

• Lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)
• Warm compresses to help oil glands work better
• Omega-3 supplements to support tear quality
• Blinking exercises to spread tears evenly
• Avoiding smoke or dry air
• Changing contact lens habits

Once your eyes are more stable and comfortable, your surgeon can reassess to see if you’re ready for surgery.

Step 3: Choosing the right procedure

There are a few types of laser eye surgery. The most common are:

• LASIK – a flap is made in the cornea before reshaping
• PRK – the surface layer of the cornea is removed before reshaping
• Smartsight (KLEx) – a small keyhole-shaped incision is made to reshape the cornea.

If you have mild dry eyes, your surgeon might recommend a procedure that’s gentler on the corneal surface, like Smartsight (KLEx) or PRK, depending on your test results.

Your eye doctor will discuss which method may be safest for you based on your tear health, corneal shape, and lifestyle needs.

Step 4: After surgery, managing dryness

After surgery, almost everyone experiences some dryness. This is normal and usually improves as your eyes heal.

To help your eyes recover, you’ll likely be given:

• Lubricating drops to use often
• Anti-inflammatory drops to reduce irritation
• Protective eye shields to avoid rubbing
• Follow-up appointments to monitor healing

During recovery:

• Avoid rubbing your eyes
• Stay out of smoky or dusty areas
• Drink water and stay hydrated
• Avoid air conditioning or direct wind on your face.

Most people find their eyes feel much better after a few weeks, but some dryness can linger for a few months. Your care team will let you know when you can return to normal activities.

Who might not be suitable for surgery

Laser eye surgery may not be suitable if:

• Your dry eyes are severe or chronic
• Your tear glands don’t produce enough moisture
• You have an eye condition that affects the surface or cornea
• You’re using certain medications that reduce tear production.

In these cases, your eye doctor may suggest treating the dryness first or exploring other types of vision correction.

The goal is to make sure your eyes are healthy enough for safe and comfortable healing.

How Blink Vision Clinic helps

At Blink Vision Clinic in Canberra, we provide thorough, personalised assessments before recommending laser eye surgery. Our team carefully checks for dry eyes and other conditions that could affect your results.

We’ll never promise perfect vision or guaranteed outcomes, instead, we’ll give you honest information and a plan based on your eyes and your health.

If laser eye surgery isn’t right for you yet, we can help you improve your eye comfort and recheck when your eyes are ready.

Ready to Find Out If You’re Suitable?

If you have dry eyes and are wondering if laser eye surgery could work for you, take our quick suitability self-test.

It only takes a few minutes and helps us understand if you might be a good candidate.