Optimizing patients with symptoms and/or signs of dry eye prior to refractive surgery

ABSTRACT

Symptoms and signs of dry eye are common in patients who present for evaluation for LASIK surgery since these patients tend to consider refractive surgery because they are unhappy with contact lenses, including decreased wearing time associated with dry eye, and glasses. It is important to optimize these patients prior to LASIK surgery so that measurements such as wavefront analysis are not confounded and to reduce the incidence of LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy [LINE] after surgery. Topical cyclosporine A has become a mainstay of pre-treatment for LASIK where it is available. Other treatments include artificial tears and ointments, oral doxycycline, and punctal plugs. With appropriate pre-treatment, the majority of patients with symptoms and signs of dry eye prior to surgery can have successful LASIK surgery