Should I get LASIK when I already have dry eye syndrome?
January 27, 2015 12:36 PM Subscribe
YANM eye doctor. I got a screening from UC Berkeley's eye clinic last year and was okayed for LASIK, but haven't gone through with it yet. During this year's routine eye exam, they finally diagnosed me with dry eye syndrome. Since LASIK can also cause permanent dry eye, is it still relatively safe for me to get?
I'm in my 30s and have been wearing glasses since elementary school and RGP contacts almost exclusively since high school (there's been maybe 10 years of RGP wear plus 5 years of soft contacts wear, the latter which caused abnormal blood vessel growth in the retinas, which have since become ghost vessels and supposedly harmless.) My dry eye syndrome is severe enough that I don't tolerate bright lights or florescent lights very well, but not severe enough that I was prescribed retinal plug surgery or anything like that.
I'm in my 30s and have been wearing glasses since elementary school and RGP contacts almost exclusively since high school (there's been maybe 10 years of RGP wear plus 5 years of soft contacts wear, the latter which caused abnormal blood vessel growth in the retinas, which have since become ghost vessels and supposedly harmless.) My dry eye syndrome is severe enough that I don't tolerate bright lights or florescent lights very well, but not severe enough that I was prescribed retinal plug surgery or anything like that.
I wouldn't if I were you (and that's coming from someone who talks up LASIK at every opportunity), but the LASIK ophthalmologist can run precise tests to see how dry your eyes are now.
posted by supercres at 1:34 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by supercres at 1:34 PM on January 27, 2015
Years of contacts gave me dry eye syndrome. I finally got Lasik and it was the best thing I could've done. The lasik doctor gave me a prescription for my dry eye that I took for a while after my surgery and then I stopped taking it. I still have dry eyes, but since I no longer have to deal with contacts it's not nearly as bad as it used to be.
If you were ok'd for lasik then it's probably fine, but in your case I suppose you should ask yourself if you're ok with potentially taking prescription eye drops for the rest of your life if something happens. (or as ziggly suggested, getting plugs).
posted by manderin at 2:16 PM on January 27, 2015
If you were ok'd for lasik then it's probably fine, but in your case I suppose you should ask yourself if you're ok with potentially taking prescription eye drops for the rest of your life if something happens. (or as ziggly suggested, getting plugs).
posted by manderin at 2:16 PM on January 27, 2015
I asked my optometrist this recently, because the regular allergy pills dry out my eyes and all, and while I know dry eye is a possibility, I wondered if technology and technique had improved enough that it wasn't as big of a risk as it used to be. He said no, and he said he wouldn't recommend LASIK for me.
I remember reading an awful article about this woman who had permanent dry eye from LASIK and she deeply regretted getting the procedure. It made it hard for her to do a lot of stuff we take for granted.
posted by discopolo at 2:46 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I remember reading an awful article about this woman who had permanent dry eye from LASIK and she deeply regretted getting the procedure. It made it hard for her to do a lot of stuff we take for granted.
posted by discopolo at 2:46 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I asked my eye doctor about getting LASIK. He offered to give me a referral if I wanted one but said permenant vision issues, dry eyes in particular, are a huge issue for many people. He pointed to his own glasses and said even though he was able to get it done for free on himself, he doesn't think the risks are worth it and won't get the procedure.
posted by _Mona_ at 3:14 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by _Mona_ at 3:14 PM on January 27, 2015
Ask your eye doctor. Then ask your potential eye surgeon.
I doubt this is a good idea, but if your contacts are causing your dry eyes, then maybe LASIK can help or at least not make it worse.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:05 PM on January 27, 2015
I doubt this is a good idea, but if your contacts are causing your dry eyes, then maybe LASIK can help or at least not make it worse.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:05 PM on January 27, 2015
Judging by many of the posts on this forum (specifically here), it doesn't seem to be a good idea.
posted by invisible ink at 5:11 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by invisible ink at 5:11 PM on January 27, 2015
I had this same question and scheduled a consultation with the LASIK surgeon. He didn't recommend the surgery. I'd suggest getting the professional opinion.
posted by hampanda at 7:15 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by hampanda at 7:15 PM on January 27, 2015
No!!! My mom had this exact issue without knowing it, and after Lasik had about 10 years of near-suicidal misery before things started to go back to normal.
posted by Clustercuss at 7:40 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by Clustercuss at 7:40 PM on January 27, 2015
My eye doctor recommended LASIK for me only after I got the punctual plugs, which is an in-office procedure, not a surgery. I opted not to do the LASIK ultimately, because I would still need reading glasses. So I still wear glasses, but my dry eyes aren't a problem anymore.
posted by Biblio at 10:27 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by Biblio at 10:27 PM on January 27, 2015
I'd recommending going in for a consultation with the LASIK surgeons (I'm assuming they're free, mine was) and hearing what they have to say. And then, yes, follow up with your primary eye doctor and hear what they think.
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:10 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:10 AM on January 28, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ziggly at 12:37 PM on January 27, 2015