Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT) and
Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, P-IOL, RLE, etc.
There is controversy
about the affect of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on
refractive surgery. It appears that HRT contributes to dry eyes.
conventional or custom
wavefront
Lasik and
All-Laser Lasik commonly temporarily exacerbate pre-existing dry
eyes. The combination of HRT induced dry eyes and refractive surgery
induced dry eyes may cause serious ocular health problems, including
discomfort,
edema, induced
astigmatism,
and
epithelial defect.
PRK,
LASEK, and
Epi-Lasik have the potential to induce dry eye, but it is more rare
and tends to be less severe. Induced dry eye is not normally an issue
with
P-IOL, or
RLE.
Women who take estrogen
alone have a higher incidence of dry eye compared to those who take
a combination of estrogen and progestin. While Lasik and All-Laser Lasik
nearly always induce some degree of dry eye, it may not be enough to
bother some people. However, when combined with HRT induced dry eye
it can be problematic.
It may be that a change
to your HRT would be helpful. It may be wise to select a refractive
surgery technique that is less likely to induce dry eye, or to elect
not to have refractive surgery of any kind.
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