Illustrative stock photo — lubricating drops for surface care; not Conlon Eye Institute inventory or a specific prescription drop.

Dry, gritty or watery eyes are easy to shrug off in Saskatchewan — until you are planning LASIK, ASL (PRK) or cataract surgery. The tear film is not just about comfort. It is part of the optical surface your surgeon measures and the surface that has to heal afterward.

This post explains why our ophthalmologists take dry eye seriously before elective eye surgery, and what that means for your timeline. It is not the same as our winter dry-eye tips post, which focuses on home relief in cold, dry air.

Key Takeaways

• An unstable tear film can blur vision and throw off the measurements used to plan laser vision correction and lens power for cataract surgery or RLE.
• Treating dry eye first can mean delaying surgery a little so those measurements — and your comfort — are more reliable.
• ASL (PRK) and LASIK can temporarily worsen dryness while nerves and the surface settle; cataract surgery can also flare dry-eye symptoms afterward.
• For ASL (PRK) recovery, modern drop therapy and a soft bandage contact lens support healing and comfort. Comfort varies; surgery is never promised to be painless.

Your Tear Film Is Part of Your Optics

Tears do more than wet the eye. The smooth tear layer is the first surface light hits. When tears evaporate too quickly or the glands in the eyelids are inflamed, the surface becomes irregular. Vision can fluctuate. Screens, furnace heat, contact lenses and prairie wind all make this worse for many people in Saskatoon.

Before surgery we look at symptoms and at the eye surface under the microscope. Mild dryness is common. Significant dryness deserves treatment before you lock in surgical numbers.

Why Measurements Depend on a Quieter Surface

For LASIK and ASL (PRK), mapping and thickness measurements guide how much tissue can be safely reshaped. A rough, dry surface can make readings less consistent.

For cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange, biometry and corneal measurements help choose IOL power. A 2026 peer-reviewed review on dry eye before and after cataract surgery notes that pre-existing dry eye can affect the accuracy of preoperative topographic and biometric measurements, and that optimizing the ocular surface helps ensure accurate biometric calculations.

Rushing ahead with a dry, irregular surface is like taking a prescription through a smudged window. A short pause to calm the surface is often the careful choice.

LASIK, ASL (PRK) and Temporary Dryness

Laser vision correction can reduce tear feedback from corneal nerves for a time, so eyes may feel drier during healing. AdvancedSurf Laser (PRK), not LASIK, treats the surface without a flap. That means a few days of surface healing: light sensitivity, watering and discomfort are common early on. Long-term results for suitable candidates are generally similar to LASIK once healing is complete; the early days are simply a different kind of recovery.

To support that early phase, care typically includes modern drop therapy and a soft bandage contact lens while the surface regenerates. In our surgeons’ experience, comfort with this approach is greatly improved for many patients compared with older recovery stories people still hear — though everyone heals differently, and no one can promise a painless recovery.

We do not publish drop names or a medication schedule online. Your written aftercare instructions after surgery are the guide to follow.

Cataract Surgery and the Ocular Surface

Cataract surgery is highly successful at clearing a cloudy lens, but the surface can feel drier or more irritated for weeks afterward — especially if dryness was already present. Lubricating drops, lid hygiene when advised, and follow-up with your eye care team help most people through that phase. If you already use drops for dry eye, bring the list to your consultation.

What “Treat First” Can Look Like

Depending on your exam, preparation might include:

• Preservative-free lubricating drops used regularly
• Warm compresses and lid care for eyelid oil gland dysfunction
• A pause on contact lenses before measurement days
• Prescription surface treatment when needed (details given privately at the visit)
• Rechecking measurements once the surface looks quieter

This is individualized. Not every mild case needs a long delay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will dry eye stop me from having surgery?

Not necessarily. Many people proceed after the surface is optimized. Occasionally the exam shows another issue that changes the plan. Honesty about symptoms helps us advise you.

Is AdvancedSurf Laser (PRK) more uncomfortable than LASIK?

ASL (PRK) usually has a slower, more surface-focused first week because the outer layer grows back. LASIK often feels quieter early on but involves a flap. Long-term vision results for appropriate candidates are generally comparable; the early comfort trade-off is the main difference people notice.

What helps ASL (PRK) comfort afterward?

Modern drop therapy and a soft bandage contact lens are standard supports while the surface heals. Comfort is much better for many people than older stories suggest, but it still varies. Follow the instructions you are given; do not share or substitute someone else’s drops.

Should I start drops from the pharmacy before my consult?

Preservative-free lubricants are often reasonable, but ask us or your optometrist before starting medicated drops. Bring everything you use to your visit.

Does this replace a winter dry-eye tips article?

No. Seasonal home care is different from surgical planning. If furnace heat and wind are your main issue, that guidance still helps day to day.

Book Your Consultation

Planning LASIK, ASL (PRK) or cataract surgery and worried about dry eye? Book your consultation: call our Saskatoon office at 306-244-4111, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm. Conlon Eye Institute is in the Medical Arts Building, 341-750 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3H3.

References

• American Academy of Ophthalmology. LASIK and dry eye (EyeSmart). https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik-dry-eye
• American Academy of Ophthalmology. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/photorefractive-keratectomy-prk
• National Eye Institute. Cataracts. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts
• Spritz S, et al. Management of Dry Eye Disease Pre- and Post-Cataract Surgery: A Personalized Approach. J Pers Med. 2026;16(2):86. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12942407/ (DOI 10.3390/jpm16020086; first published 2026-02-03).

About the Author

Dr. M. Ronan Conlon has practised ophthalmology in Saskatoon since 1994. He completed fellowship training in ocular pathology at Harvard University and in oculoplastic surgery at the University of Iowa. In 1996 he brought laser vision correction technology to Canada from Germany, and he specializes in oculoplastic surgery, LASIK, ASL (PRK) and refractive cataract surgery. With the establishment of the Conlon Eye Institute, Dr. Conlon has drawn on decades of experience in LASIK, RLE surgery, refractive cataract surgery, and oculoplastic surgery. He has also served as Head of Ophthalmology and Chief of Staff with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

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