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Eye surgery and dry eyes

What to expect before and after surgery

Close-up of an eye with light reflecting

Most people experience dry eyes after cataract surgery and after LASIK surgery (also known as laser eye surgery), as well as eyelid, glaucoma, retina, cornea or squint surgeries. In fact, studies show that 95% of people who underwent LASIK surgery and more than 87% of people who underwent cataract surgery had symptoms. The good news is, for most people, symptoms improve after a few months and are usually gone by 6 – 12 months. 48 You also have plenty of options to find relief while you’re going through it.


Surgeons performing eye surgery

Managing symptoms

Before you have your surgery, it’s a good idea to speak to your surgeon about dry eye particularly if you think you may be at higher risk or if you already experience symptoms.

Your surgeon will normally perform a screening before your surgery to make sure that, if you do have dry eye, it won’t affect the recovery after the operation. If your symptoms of dry eye are severe, they may offer you an alternative surgery.

Afterwards, you may be given some eye drops, such as Cationorm®, to help lubricate the eyes, treat any dry eye symptoms, and help your eyes heal.


Top tips

After surgery, inflammation can lead to dry eye. Eye drops can help but some contain preservatives which can in themselves cause inflammation – ask for a preservative free option.


Using a treatment to moisturise the eyes, such as eye drops, can help reduce symptoms of dry eyes after surgery. Be sure to speak to your surgeon about this before your surgery.


Cationorm logo

Cationorm® is a first-of-a-kind eye drop that acts like the body’s natural tears to provide long-lasting relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eyes. Kind to even sensitive eyes, Cationorm® is preservative free and is suitable for contact lens wearers. Always read the label.

Try Cationorm®
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Learn more

Common triggers

Find out the lifestyle changes which can help reduce your symptoms of dry eye, from desktop, to dinnertime.

Read more

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Risk factors

Medical conditions and hormonal changes such as Menopause can result in eyes becoming dry. Read our info on what medical conditions could be risk factors for dry eyes.

Read more

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