Dry Eye
Dry eye disease occurs when either
the eyes do not make enough tears, or
the tears evaporate too quickly.
Tear evaporation due to dysfunction of the Meibomian oil glands is the commonest cause of dry eye.
Tears are made of 3 main components:
Mucous innermost layer of tears
Aqueous (watery) middle layer of tears
Oily outer layer of tears
Why are tears important for sharp vision?
Typical symptoms are that the vision is better just after blinking (when a new smooth layer of tears has been laid over the cornea again, by the eyelids closing), but quickly deteriorates when the layer of tears evaporates e.g. when watching a computer screen in the afternoon.
Laser eye surgery and tears
Careful evaluation by an expert in both dry eye and laser eye surgery like Miss Saw will optimise the condition of your eyes prior to surgery, and ensure that you have an outstanding outcome after laser or implant surgery.
Why compromise on anything less? Your eyesight is precious. There are many laser eye surgeons but few who have years of expertise and experience in both dry eye and laser eye surgery like Miss Saw.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
- Heavy tired feeling of the eyes
- Decreased tolerance of reading, and working on the computer, and blurriness of vision during these activities.
- Excessive watering of the eyes (when they are very dry and the brain reflex to make tears is stimulated)
- Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
- Stinging or burning of the eyes
- A sandy or gritty feeling as if something is in the eye
- Pain and redness of the eyes
What causes dry eye?
There are 2 main types of dry eye:
- Lack of aqueous (watery) tears, also known as Aqueous Tear Deficiency
- Rapid tear evaporation due to lack of oily tears, also known as Evaporative Dry Eye.
- Other causes of dry eye include poor closure of the eyelids e.g in thyroid eye disease or after cosmetic surgery.
Common causes of Aqueous Tear Deficiency
- The commonest cause of lack of aqueous tears is ageing. The lacrimal gland produces less tears as we get older. As we get older our eyelids are also less effective at spreading the tears each time we blink.
- Menopause
- Medications like anti-depressants, oral anti-histamines, oral contraceptives
- Auto-immune diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus
- Long term contact lens wear causing loss of sensation in the cornea, which reduces the brain reflex that makes tears.
- LASIK causes a temporary loss of sensation in the cornea, which regenerates after 6-9 months.
Common causes of Evaporative Dry Eye
- Meibomian gland dysfunction, and blepharitis
- Infrequent blinking, associated with staring at computer or video screens or Parkinson’s disease. REMEMBER TO BLINK!
How is dry eye treated?
The following information is provided as a guide only. Careful assessment and treatment by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) who has the expert training and experience to accurately determine your diagnosis and best treatment approach is important.
The first step is to evaluate which type of dry eye is present: either lack of aqueous (watery) tears and/or lack of oily tears leading to rapid tear evaporation.
The second step is to identify and treat or reverse any underlying cause e.g. stop antidepressant or antihistamine medications, use a different type of contact lens or reduce the number of hours you wear contact lenses,treat Sjogren’s syndrome with a rheumatologist.
Correction of aqueous tear deficient dry eye (lack of watery tears)
Treatment of aqueous tear deficiency involves treatment along a stepladder of therapy:
The next step is to correct each type of dry eye in turn.
What will happen during my consultation appointment?
During the consultation Miss Saw and her team will perform several diagnostic tests including:
- A careful glasses test (refraction), evaluation of ocular dominance, binocular fusion and eye muscle control.
- Detailed scans and measurements of the eye, using state-of-the-art equipment that will detect astigmatism in the cornea which requires a toric intraocular implant, and will be used to select the intraocular lens implant power most appropriate for your eye.
- Miss Saw will do a comprehensive examination of your eyes, including an eye pressure check, examination of the back of your eye (the retina) and evaluation of the health of the surface of your eyes.
Miss Saw will explain the results of the eye tests and her examination findings to you. She will then discuss the options for sight correction which are most appropriate for your eyes. Miss Saw will perform all the surgical procedures.
Do I need to prepare for the consultation?
- If you wear contact lenses, please remember to leave your contact lenses out before the consultation, for the following durations:
- Daily disposable soft lenses – at least 3 days
- Weekly/fortnightly/monthly soft lenses – at least 7 days
- Gas permeable lenses – at least 2 weeks
- Hard lenses – 4 weeks (or change to daily disposables, wear them for 3 weeks & leave them out for 1 week prior to the appointment)
Continuous contact lens wear can lead to temporary changes in the shape of your cornea, so it is important to leave contact lenses out prior to the consultation to ensure that the eye tests we perform are accurate. After the consultation, soft contact lenses can be used again, but they should be stopped 1-2 days prior to laser eye surgery. Hard contact lenses must be stopped 2 weeks before laser eye surgery. For RLE/cataract or ICL surgery, all types of lenses can be used until the day of the surgery.
- Bring a record of all your spectacle prescriptions over the last 2 years if possible. Laser eye surgery is normally postponed until the spectacle prescription is stable. Small variations in your prescription are normal, but if there has been a significant change over the last 2 years, we would normally wait 12 months before proceeding with surgery to ensure that there is no progressive change. Learn more about understanding your prescription
- You should allow a full two hours for your consultation.
- Your pupils will be dilated at the initial consultation. This will make your vision blurry and your eyes sensitive to bright light for a few hours. Bring sunglasses and avoid driving or biking to your appointment.
- Read the literature we send you and bring any questions you may have, to your consultation with Valerie.
How long does cataract surgery take?
The cataract surgery itself takes 20 minutes or so. If you have femtosecond laser surgery it will take a little longer, 40 minutes or so. You will be at the day surgery facility for approximately 1-2 hours, to prepare the eye for surgery and to care for it after surgery including dispensing your postoperative eye drops.
How much time should I plan off work for cataract surgery?
Although the visual recovery after cataract surgery is rapid: you can expect to see quite well within 1-2 days of surgery. Provided you are able to put drops in 4x per day, a return to work a few days after surgery will not damage the eye. Dusty environments are unlikely to damage the eye, but may be irritating, and should be avoided for 1 week after surgery.
Patients who were dependent on distance glasses prior to surgery, will have difficulty obtaining balanced vision in spectacles in the week between having the first and second eye operated on. The alternatives for this stage are wearing a contact lens in the unoperated eye, or leaving one eye relatively blurred (simply removing one spectacle lens creates problems with unequal image size). Once the second eye is operated on, there is normally a swift return of balanced vision, and patients on a tight schedule can usually return to work 2 days following surgery provided that they are able to continue administering drops 4x per day.
How soon can I fly or travel overseas after cataract surgery?
For patients with cataracts coming from overseas, we recommend a minimum of 7 days in the UK, but flying is permissible from the day after surgery.
Are there any precautions I need to take after cataract surgery?
You can be as active as you like after modern keyhole cataract surgery. Bending over and lifting heavy weights are no problem. The main limitations are: no swimming for 1 week after surgery and no eye make up for one week after surgery. Driving is fine once you can read a number plate at 20 metres (Snellen 6/12 plus).
If you are in doubt, Miss Saw will check that your vision is at the driving standard following surgery in the second eye. Driving with good vision in only one eye (between operations) is legal, but you should exercise caution until you feel confident, and drive short distances by day in familiar surroundings.
How will things feel after cataract surgery?
The eye will feel scratchy and can be a little pink. It will be sensitive to light. Vision will be very good within the first 1-2 days.
What are the risks of cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is very safe, but not risk free. In round numbers, approximately 1 in 2000 patients has a problem with surgery leading to permanent visual loss in the affected eye. Over 90% of people whose eyes are otherwise healthy are able to see at the driving standard or better without spectacles after cataract surgery, and low risk laser procedures can normally be used to fine-tune the result if required. A variety of multifocal lens implant options are available to fill in the near range for patients who would like greater spectacle freedom.
Can the cataract re-grow?
The cataract cannot re-grow after surgery, but scar tissue formation behind the artificial lens implant (also known as posterior capsular opacification (PCO)) can develop 3 – 6 years after cataract surgery. Affected patients will typically notice a visual deterioration and problems with light scatter.
PCO is corrected by a 15 minute laser procedure in the clinic which cuts through the thin scarred lens capsule to restore a clear pathway for light to focus on the retina. This procedure is called YAG laser capsulotomy. It normally restores vision to the level it was originally at after cataract surgery within 24 hours.
The artificial lens implant is for life. It does not need to be changed.
Why should I choose Miss Saw to do my cataract surgery?
The safety of your eyes is paramount. Valerie and her dedicated team of expert professionals are passionate about providing world class care. Her practice has a consistent track record of excellence and safety. She has done thousands of cataract operations, and it’s no coincidence that patients seek her help when things don’t go well elsewhere.
How do I know if I am suitable for cataract surgery?
Attending a consultation with Ms Saw and her team, where a comprehensive series of eye tests and evaluations are carried out, is the best way to establish whether cataract surgery is appropriate for you. Ms Saw will then be able to advise you regarding the benefits and risks of cataract surgery in your case, and your options to minimize dependence on spectacles with sophisticated lens implants.
Do cataracts have to be a certain level of maturity before they can be operated on?
Modern cataract surgery is carried out through a tiny keyhole, and can be performed at an early stage, when there is very little cataract. When cataract surgery is carried out with no cataract present, it is termed Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). Older techniques of large-incision cataract surgery required the lens to mature and harden before surgery was recommended. Waiting for cataract surgery does not harm the health of the eye.
Why Private Cataract Surgery with Miss Saw?
Private cataract surgery with Miss Sawensures that your surgery is performed by Miss Saw and you see her at each and every consultation, giving you reassurance that your eyes are in experienced hands with the best possible outcome.
Miss Saw sees you at a consultation before the surgery, to thoroughly examine your eyes and go through the results of your eye measurements and other tests. She will then advise you on the treatment which is most appropriate for you.
Private cataract surgery with Miss Saw also gives you greater choice, being able to have the latest Femtosecond Laser technology for superb precision during the surgery, as well as the option of having a multifocal lens implant to correct dependence on reading glasses, or a toric lens implant to eliminate any astigmatism.
Miss Saw is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and has carried out thousands of cataract/RLE procedures. Consistently outstanding patient testimonials reflect her unparalleled standards of excellence and care.
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0203 328 0076
Clinic Address
The London Clinic 119 Harley Street London W1G 6AU
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pm@valeriesaw.com