Does LASIK cause dry eye?

Yes, it's common to experience increased dryness during the first few weeks or months after LASIK surgery. This happens because the procedure temporarily affects the nerves in the corneal surface, which are directly involved in normal tear production.

For the vast majority of patients, this dryness is temporary: the corneal nerves gradually regenerate over the months following surgery, and tear production returns to its usual level.

That's why, during the evaluation before any refractive surgery, we assess the health of your eye's surface and, if you already have pre-existing dry eye, we treat it before surgery. This reduces discomfort during recovery and helps decide whether LASIK, PRK, or SMILE is the best option for your case — SMILE, for example, tends to be associated with less post-operative dryness than LASIK, since it affects fewer corneal nerves.