Don’t Let Dry Eyes Prevent You From Considering LASIK

Don’t Let Dry Eyes Prevent You From Considering LASIK

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on January 15, 2015

There are approximately 100 million people who suffer from dry eyes and if you’re one of them, then the last thing you want to do is make your condition worse. You may have heard that if you suffer from dry eyes before you have LASIK surgery, then your eyes will only become increasingly dry after LASIK. You may have also heard you will develop dry eyes after LASIK.

Two common questions we hear are “can you get LASIK if you have dry eyes?” and “will you have dry eyes after LASIK?” Don’t let dry eyes prevent you from considering LASIK at Kugler Vision in Omaha. If you have heard either of these things, keep reading! We will address those questions plus more.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

The main cause of dry eyes is a lack of sufficient tears. If your eyes do not produce enough tears, or they do not produce the correct consistency of tears, your eyes will become dry. Sometimes it is because that moisture evaporates too quickly. Having the proper amount of moisture and tear film is needed for good eye health.

If the situation is not corrected, it may result in an inflammation of the cornea. That itching, redness, burning, scratchiness and the general discomfort of dry eyes can make your life miserable. Certain circumstances, medications, and our environment contribute to dry eyes or dry eye syndrome. Some of them are:

• The natural aging process including hormonal changes during menopause
• Certain prescription medications
• Allergies and their medications
• Dry heating systems or air conditioning at work or home
• Living in a big city with the irritating effects of pollution or dry air
• Working at a computer or the use of a smart phone for long periods of time
• Certain autoimmune diseases
• Wearing contact lenses

Contact Lenses and Dry Eyes

One of the major complaints of contact lens wearers is dry eyes. It’s no wonder that many people decide to get laser vision correction at Kugler Vision because they cannot comfortably wear their contact lenses any longer due to dry eye issues. Years ago, with older technologies, dry eyes after LASIK was more problematic. Today with the new lasers and improved technology this situation is much less likely to occur. The residual effects of dry eye issues after LASIK are temporary and treatable.

In a recent study, dry eye did not change significantly in patients who went from contact lenses to LASIK, with 43% at baseline, 49% at 1 year after LASIK, and 45% at 2 years after LASIK saying they “occasionally” experienced dry eye symptoms. At Kugler Vision we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye. Our experts carefully evaluate every patient who comes for their pre-LASIK examination in order to determine the level of dry eye problems. The team of specialists perform tests to insure that any issues are resolved and treated before they perform LASIK. The same is true of the post-operative care: every patient is carefully monitored for several months after the procedure to make sure that any remaining issues are treated.

Every patient seen for evaluation for refractive surgery is evaluated with a LipiView tear film aberrometer, as well as the HD Analyzer dry eye evaluation system. These technologies are not available anywhere else in the region and provide a sophisticated analysis of tear function.

LASIK is not the only option

It is important to realize that there are many options to correct vision, and LASIK is only one type of procedure. For patients who are not able to have LASIK there are other options including ICL and lens replacement. The ability to perform the entire range of options is an important reason to chose Kugler Vision for your vision correction procedure.

LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment System

Before undergoing any vision correction procedure, the evaluation and treatment of any dry eye symptoms is important. Because they are dry eye experts, the specialists at Kugler Vision are able to ascertain more serious cases and identify the causes of your particular dry eye symptoms. From there, they will decide upon a personalized treatment plan. The new LipiFlow system dry eye pulsation treatment maximizes your results especially for evaporative dry eye symptoms. This is an innovative way to treat moderate to severe dry eye discomfort.

The treatment is performed in office, is non-invasive, and it takes just a few minutes to complete. Our doctors evaluate the tear film quality, which is then viewed on a LipiView monitor. The results are captured and calculated immediately and the LipiView system produces a colorful image of your tear film. This new treatment is a significant improvement in technology. It works by applying heat and pressure to gently open blocked glands and allows your body to then naturally produce the normal tear flow. It is the only treatment that addresses the cause of evaporative dry eye thereby allowing the eyelid glands to produce tear film naturally.

Recent clinical results have shown that 79% of adult patients report improvement of their dry eye symptoms. Please visit the Lipiflow Dry Eye Treatment page on our website to find out more information.

How to decide what is best for you

If you have been under the impression that vision correction surgery is not in your future due to dry eyes, then it may be time to reconsider! No matter if you have dry eyes, or if your wear contact lenses, or both, don’t let dry eyes prevent you from learning about your options.

Contact Kugler Vision and schedule an evaluation to determine if vision correction is possible for you, regardless of your dry eyes! Our specialists will perform all the necessary tests to make sure you are a great candidate. Once you have all the facts about your dry eyes, your decision may be easier than you think.

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.