I had my Intralase customvue lasik surgery on 2/11/06. I was seeing perfect the day after surgery. However, after the first day, my vision began getting poorer, I wasn't seeing as clearly. I started to feel my eyelids getting swollen/puffy and hurt to touch. Also, I was very sensitive to bright daylight and even indoor lighting. I have to wear dark sunglasses indoor and outdoor. I called the Dr.and was told to use cold RefreshPlus every 1/2 to 1hr. After 1 week at the postop, my eyes didn't get any better. I had to take Tylenol and Motrin for headaches eye pains. The optometrist told me that it just takes time to heal. At the end of 2nd week, I couldn't stand the uncomfortableness, and saw the surgeon. He prescribed Restatis for 2 months and gave me punctal plugs to produce more tears. My vision now is -1.00 and -1.25. But at week 3, my eyes were so miserable from light sensitivity, squinting, and soreness, I went to see an opthalmolgist who told me I have severe dry eye, and put me on Predforte and Patanol for 2 weeks. I do feel better after using these drops. At my 1 month post-op, the surgeon told me I have to wait 6 months before he can do an enhancement. He said he will work on the surface only, and put a contact on when done, instead of relifting the flap. However, my dilemma now is I'm going into my 8th week,.. but my eyes are back to where it was. Swollen eyelids, uncomfortableness on the surface of the eyes. During the day, I've been using various lubricating drops, Refresh, RefreshPlus, Systane, RefreshCellusvisc, Soothe to keep my eyes moist. And I'm still on Restatis for another month. What could my problem be to cause the swollen eyelids and light sensitivity? Is it an eye infection, or just dry eye problem or did something went wrong with my surgery? I'm also nervous about going to do the enhancement in 6 months.

I believe you have two separate problems. One is the light sensitivity (photophobia) and the other is the lid swelling.

Transient light sensitivity is a known complication of Lasik with a femtosecond laser created flap (IntraLasik). Treatment is commonly steroid drops. It does go away, but can last for many weeks.

The swelling around the eyes may be more related to the dry eyes. What makes it worse is that swollen tissue around the eye lids will block the channels that carry the natural lubricants to form tears. We have a detailed article on dry eyes and Lasik at http://www.complicatedeyes.org/dry_eye_treatment.htm

It sounds like you may be having an allergic response to one or more of the medications. The fist thing to do is use ONLY artificial tears that are preservative-free. These will come in small one-time use vials. There are some that say they are “preservative-free at the eye” but they actually have a preservative in them and are best avoided.

Ask your doctor for alternatives to the current medications you are taking. Report any changes to your doctor.

Glenn Hagele
CRSQA
http://www.USAEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

>I had my Intralase customvue lasik surgery
>on 2/11/06. I was seeing
>perfect the day after surgery.
>However, after the first day, my
>vision began getting poorer, I wasn't
>seeing as clearly. I started
>to feel my eyelids getting swollen/puffy
>and hurt to touch. Also, I
>was very sensitive to bright daylight
>and even indoor lighting. I have
>to wear dark sunglasses indoor and
>outdoor. I called the Dr.and was
>told to use cold RefreshPlus every
>1/2 to 1hr. After 1
>week at the postop, my eyes
>didn't get any better. I
>had to take Tylenol and Motrin
>for headaches eye pains. The optometrist
>told me that it just takes
>time to heal. At the
>end of 2nd week, I couldn't
>stand the uncomfortableness, and saw the
>surgeon. He prescribed Restatis for 2
>months and gave me punctal plugs
>to produce more tears. My vision
>now is -1.00 and -1.25.
>But at week 3, my eyes
>were so miserable from light sensitivity,
>squinting, and soreness, I went to
>see an opthalmolgist who told me
>I have severe dry eye, and
>put me on Predforte and Patanol
>for 2 weeks. I do feel
>better after using these drops. At
>my 1 month post-op, the surgeon
>told me I have to wait
>6 months before he can do
>an enhancement. He said he will
>work on the surface only, and
>put a contact on when done,
>instead of relifting the flap. However,
>my dilemma now is I'm going
>into my 8th week,.. but my
>eyes are back to where it
>was. Swollen eyelids, uncomfortableness on the
>surface of the eyes. During the
>day, I've been using various lubricating
>drops, Refresh, RefreshPlus, Systane, RefreshCellusvisc, Soothe
>to keep my eyes moist. And
>I'm still on Restatis for another
>month. What could my problem be
>to cause the swollen eyelids and
>light sensitivity? Is it an
>eye infection, or just dry eye
>problem or did something went wrong
>with my surgery? I'm also nervous
>about going to do the enhancement
>in 6 months.

Has your sensitivity to light decreased any? I am having the same problem. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since lasik. On the 8th day my eyes became very sensitive to light but I only had to wear sunglasses outside. For the past 3 mornings, as soon as I wake up, the light is unbearable inside & out. I can't turn a light on in the house & I shouldn't be driving to work. When I get to work my eyes are red & hurt. After about 5 hrs the sensitivity goes away & I can put some makeup on (I leave sunglasses on until then). But, when I drive home it starts all over again, only outside, until I get to where I'm going. My dr. said it will pass & to use drops, refresh or systane. Drops don't work. Have you found anything to help you. If so, please pass it on to me. I don't think I can put up with this for even 1 more week. Thanks, Karen

I had these same problems after Intralase and they seemed to be made worse with RefreshTears. Try Soothe. You can get it at Walmart. I was also on predForte for 8 months and now am using it again since enhancement. That poke in the eye feeling went away with enhancement so I suspect there was something under the flap.