People with dry eyes who undergo laser surgery to correct their vision may have a more severe case of dryness after the surgery.
Researchers followed 290 patients who had "definite" or "probable" dry eye before LASIK surgery. In the year after surgery, the patients with dry eyes saw the same vision improvement as other patients. But their dry-eye symptoms were worse throughout the year, according to the study.
Those who did not have dry eyes before the surgery only experienced temporary dryness for about a month afterward.
In the LASIK surgery, a thin layer of tissue is removed from the cornea to reshape it and correct near- or far-sighted vision.
Those with dry eyes often desire the surgery because wearing contact lenses is uncomfortable, but the study cautions that, with LASIK, their dry eyes may persist or even worsen.
Archives of Ophthalmology 2002;120:1024-1028
If LASIK worked, it would be great, but it appears that it is just not that simple. It would seem wise to avoid this approach for dry eyes.