How long does dry eyes typically last for after ReLEx SMILE surgery?

Suitability for Lasik / Refractive Surgery is a common concern of patients with dry eyes. It is well established that post-Lasik, patients experience longer periods of reduced cornea sensitivity and symptomatic dry eyes. This is thought to be related to the cornea nerves being severed at the nasal and temporal limbus during creation of the flap. However dry eyes per se doesn’t automatically disqualify you from having Lasik performed. This is because most patients with symptomatic dry eyes can be optimised before surgery so that they may get better results after surgery.

Yes - as part of your comprehensive evaluation prior to Smile / Lasik, your attending Ophthalmic surgeon will examine the posterior segment of the eye to ensure that there is no contraindications to performing your refractive surgery. Floaters are very common in patients with myopia (short-sightedness) and in themselves are not a contraindication for surgery. However, other conditions which are commonly associated with myopia including retinal tears, breaks, glaucoma or myopic macula degeneration are either disqualifying or require treatment prior to proceeding with refractive surgery.