Dry eyes after laser:
what to really expect.

Almost all patients who come for a consultation ask us the same question: will I have dry eyes after the laser? The honest answer is: yes, probably, for a limited period. But the degree, duration and impact on quality of life depend on the technique used.

Why laser causes temporary dryness

The cornea is one of the most innervated tissues in the body. Corneal nerves — branches of the trigeminal nerve — regulate the blink reflex (eyelid opening and closing) and tear production. Any laser procedure acting on the cornea temporarily interrupts some of these nerve fibres. The result is a transient reduction in corneal sensitivity and, consequently, less stimulation of the lacrimal gland.

It is a neurogenic effect, not damage to the lacrimal gland itself. The gland works — it is the nerve signal that is temporarily reduced.

TransPRK vs LASIK vs SMILE: the difference is in the nerves

The level of post-operative dryness depends directly on the number of nerve fibres interrupted during the procedure.

What to expect in practice

In our experience with TransPRK:

First week: moderate dryness, managed with preservative-free artificial tears every 1-2 hours. The patient feels a "gritty" sensation that decreases day by day.

First month: dryness reduces progressively. Most patients switch to artificial tears 3-4 times a day. Corneal sensitivity is recovering.

Third month: residual dryness is minimal or absent in the vast majority of patients. Artificial tears are used only "as needed" — hours in front of a screen, in air-conditioned environments, on planes.

Sixth month: return to normality for almost all patients. Corneal sensitivity is fully recovered.

Pre-operative risk factors

Not everyone starts from the same level. Certain factors increase the risk of prolonged post-operative dryness: prolonged contact lens wear (which already reduces corneal sensitivity), age over 50 (tear production decreases physiologically), female sex (hormonal factors), blepharitis or Meibomian gland dysfunction, systemic medications (antidepressants, antihistamines, beta-blockers).

These factors are assessed during the diagnostic examination. The MS-39 tomographer includes an advanced tear film analysis based on Placido topography: film regularity and stability are measured and documented. If the patient has significant dry eye before surgery, we treat it first and operate afterwards — or we don't operate.

How we manage the post-operative period

After each TransPRK procedure, the patient receives in their patient portal the complete instructions: eye drop schedule (antibiotic + anti-inflammatory + artificial tears), control appointment timeline, direct contact with the clinic. No paper to lose, no doubts at home.

Post-operative check-ups — included in the procedure fee for 12 months — allow monitoring of corneal regeneration and adjustment of tear therapy if needed. The 5-year guarantee also covers possible enhancements in the very rare cases where the result changes over time.

Transparency as a principle

Post-operative dry eye exists. Denying it would be dishonest. But in real clinical practice — with TransPRK SmartSurfACE, complete pre-operative diagnostics and structured follow-up — it is a transient, manageable and predictable phenomenon. It is not a reason not to have surgery. It is a reason to choose the right technique and the right surgeon.