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Can retinadetachment detachment laser surgery cause dry eyes.

I had retina detachment surgery on my right eye a few years ago and the day following my surgery my eye was blurry and very dry. I have been to several eye doctors since the surgery and all they tell me is that my eye is extremely dry and that the surgery couldn't have caused it. If that is the case, why was my eye not blurry before the surgery? No one seems to have an answer for me and it is very frustrating.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dry eyes is much more common in women than men and much more common post-menopausal than in younger women. Dry eyes almost always affects both eyes. If your problem is just in one eye, that being the one that had the retina surgery and has persisted then its possible the surgery may have played a role. One method is the eyelid may not work as well or may not close well at night. This would cause your dry eye symptoms to be much worse when you wake up in the morning. I have posted on my home page under blogs an extended posting on dry eye treatment. Start by reading that.   If you have symptoms in both eyes  then I agree the surgery would not have played a role. the term for that is 'co-incidence"  rather than "causal'
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Thanks so much for your reply Dr. Hagan. The problem is only with my right eye, altbough ive been told that both eyes are dry, but my left eye does kot bother me at all. That is interesting about the eyelid closure because my current optometrist told me that my eyelid does not close completely. I have never been told that before.  Perhaps that was the result of the surgery. I know that I woke up during the surgery and it appeared that the Surgeon was being really agressive during the procedure. The surgery took quite a bit longer than the surgeon had anticipated.

Thanks again for the reply.
Thanks so much for your reply Dr. Hagan. The problem is only with my right eye, altbough ive been told that both eyes are dry, but my left eye does kot bother me at all. That is interesting about the eyelid closure because my current optometrist told me that my eyelid does not close completely. I have never been told that before.  Perhaps that was the result of the surgery. I know that I woke up during the surgery and it appeared that the Surgeon was being really agressive during the procedure. The surgery took quite a bit longer than the surgeon had anticipated.

Thanks again for the reply.
Try putting a lubricating GEL in the eye at bedtime such as Genteal GEL or even Refresh PM. Don't sleep under a fan. When you get up rinse your eye with warm water and put an artificial tear (regular thickness) in.
Avatar universal
Hello, I had vitrectomy for RD in my left eye 7 months ago.  My eye was very, very irritated and dry up until the last two months.  It felt like constant irritation and redness that would come and go.  I am thinking since it was winter and the house was dry it had something to do with it.  I used clear eyes pure preservative free several times a day and systane ointment for night.  Ran a humidifier in bedroom as well as blocked the furnace duct.  I guess I will see how it is after cataract surgery in the next few months and again after we get back into winter.  I don't seem to need the eye drops nearly as much now (sometimes days without), but still use the ointment at night.  Actually feels and looks pretty good.  I have read many posts here that dryness is not uncommon after surgery.  
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Dr. will probably post soon, but just want to mention that since you seem to have ongoing issues for long period of time, I would suggest getting another appointment with ophthalmologist and just tell them you are in agony, and something NEEDS to be done.
Thanks for the reply xltjim. I do have a cataract in my right eye. I have wondered if surgery would improve my problem.

I hope your problem is resolved!

I appreciate your taking the time to provide feedback.
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