I know someone who got LASIK and had very dry eyes afterwards. Is this common, and will it happen to me?

According to the American Journal of Ophthalmology (March, 2006), the most common side effect of the LASIK procedure is dry eyes, occurring in a little over 30% of all surgeries. This side effect can make the patient feel the sensation as though their eyes are not moist enough or general discomfort in the eyes.

Because roughly one in three patients experiences some degree of dryness, preoperative and postoperative evaluation and constant monitoring for dry eyes has greatly increased. As such, there are a plethora of treatments for LASIK-related dry eyes. Artificial, over-the-counter eye drops and prescription artificial tears are the most common treatments. Punctual occlusion is another form of remediating dry eyes, and accomplished by placing a plug in the natural drain of the eye.

The important thing to remember in LASIK-related dry eyes is that two out of three patients do not experience them. While it is common, most patients feel the benefit of LASIK far outweighs the risk. Similarly, for patients that do experience dry eyes, it typically ranges in severity such that most patients feel such minor dry eyes that it does not affect their feelings about their satisfaction with their results.

If you're still concerned about dry eyes, address it with your surgeon. He or she may have a treatment method that is highly effective in presurgically combating dry eyes.