Is Lasik safe for people with dry eyes?

Dry eye is a genuine concern with Lasik, especially if you already have symptoms, so it’s important to take it seriously and plan for it rather than ignore it. Lasik temporarily disrupts some of the tiny nerves in the cornea that help control tear production and blinking, so almost everyone has some dryness in the early weeks, and in someone who starts with dry eye, symptoms can be stronger and last longer. That doesn’t automatically mean you’re not a candidate, but it does mean your surgeon has to evaluate and treat the dryness very carefully before and after the procedure.

Before surgery, a good doctor will do tests for tear quantity and quality, check your meibomian glands, and look for inflammation on the eye surface. If dryness is moderate or severe, they may first treat it with lubricating drops, gels, omega‑3 supplements, warm compresses, lid hygiene, anti‑inflammatory drops, punctal plugs, or switching you to more eye‑friendly contact lens habits. After Lasik, frequent preservative‑free artificial tears, temporary activity limits (like reducing screen time initially), protection from wind/AC, and sometimes short courses of prescription dry‑eye medicines help the surface heal and keep you comfortable. The key is to be open about your symptoms. If the dryness is too advanced or doesn’t improve with treatment, your surgeon may advise an alternative like PRK/SMILE or postponing surgery to protect your long‑term comfort.