Dry eyes symptoms must be expected after blepharoplasty. The reason it is so common to have dry eyes after eyelid surgery is that the operation temporarily affects the blinking mechanism. The tear film evaporates more easily after a procedure such as blepharoplasty, especially if skin and muscle were excised. The symptoms of evaporative dry eye include mild pain, light sensitivity, watery eyes and blurry vision.
Most patients who have had a blepharoplasty will need medical therapy for dry eye. Preservative-free artificial tears and ophthalmic gels are generally prescribed by an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon. The majority of patients will experience relief with this therapy. However, if ophthalmic drops are not enough to control the symptoms, punctal plugs or surgical intervention may be necessary. Corrective eyelid surgery is mandatory if dry eye and lagophthalmos coexist.
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