Can cataract surgery and/or the drugs taken for this or glaucom cause dry eye?

[mb0329]

I recently had cataract surgery in both eyes. I am taking 2 eye drops several times daily for this. They are 1: Prednisolone Acetate, and 2: Ofloxacin. I am taking these several times a day for 6 weeks..for each eye.

I was also diagnosed with glaucoma and am taking 2 eye drops for life..to reduce the pressure in my eyes. They are 1:  Dorzolamide HCl/Timolol Maleate and 2: Latanoprost . These are all Ophthalmic solutions.

Can the cataract surgery itself, or, the eye drop drugs I am taking as listed above, cause dry eye?..and if so, what would you recommend I take, if anything, to prevent this. Thanks.

[mb0329]

How do people *deal* with taking SO MANY eye drops a day? I have to take eye drops for cataract surgery and for glaucoma. Two eye drop brands for each...each several times a day. For the cataract surgery, it is every 2 hours!!! Eye drops, eye drops and more eye drops. Then more eye drops for the dry eye that the other drops cause. On and on. No end.

[JohnHaganMD]

This is dry eye article  http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/1648149/General-information-on-dry-eyes-tears-dysfunction-syndrome?personal_page_id=67912

[mb0329]

What is the link to your home page? Thanks.

[JohnHaganMD]

No cataract surgery will not cause dry eyes. Neither will prednisolone or oculfox.   In some instances the two glaucoma drops can make the eye feel dry but it is not common. Go on my home page and look at my blogs and read the article on treatment of dry eyes.  JCH MD

[JohnHaganMD]

I want to modify the above answer. Many people do experience dryness after cataract surgery. Whether its the surgery or an underlying borderline dry eye that becomes symptomatics is up for debate. No question that corneal refractive surgery such as LASIK can cause dry eyes in and of itself from modifying and denervating the cornea.