Boston Corneal Specialist on LASIK & Dry Eyes

“As a corneal specialist who is a LASIK surgeon I have many ways of helping patients both avoid and manage LASIK related dry eyes,” shared JoAnn Chang, M.D. a Boston Corneal Specialist at D’Ambrosio Eye Care with eye care and LASIK offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton and Gardner, MA. “By far the most common side effect of LASIK is dry eyes. In fact, it is pretty much expected and pretty normal for all LASIK patients to have temporary dry eye symptoms after their treatment. The critical thing to know is that the dry eye symptoms should be temporary.”

“What I like to emphasize with my LASIK patients is that they need to remember that LASIK is corneal surgery. Any time we do corneal surgery we typically sever some corneal nerves and also temporarily disturb the delicate cells on the surface of the eye. This happens during cataract surgery and any other eye surgery procedures that involve the cornea,” Dr. Chang explained. She further explained, “These corneal nerves are connected to the Lacrimal Gland which is responsible for producing tears-so when the nerves are temporarily interrupted there is a decrease in the amount of tears that are produced making your eyes feel dry and gritty.”

To make you more comfortable during the time it takes for the corneal nerves to heal and regenerate we may do one of more of the following for you:

· Prescribe Artificial Tear Eye Drops
· Insert Tiny Tear Duct Plugs
· Prescribe Restasis® Eye Drops
· Prescribe Dietary Supplements with Omega-3 Oils

Each of the above acts to either retain the tears that you have, supplement the tears that are lacking or help you produce more of your own tears so that you will be most comfortable and heal properly. Each person will regenerate the fine corneal nerves at a DIFFERENT RATE and thus will need to use one or more of the above tear helpers for different amounts of time. A very important consideration is how healthy your tear film was BEFORE your surgery. A critical part of your LASIK consultation will be a careful examination of your tear film. Sometimes, in order to make you the most comfortable and make the healing and visual recovery process as quick and easy as possible for you, we may actually prescribe one or more of the above BEFORE your surgery.

If you, or someone you know, has questions about LASIK and dry eyes or would like to schedule a free LASIK Evaluation please call and schedule an appointment at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton, Gardner serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.