8) Advanced Tear Film Chemistry Analysis
The amount of lactoferrin in the tear film is essential to how the cornea will heal after surgery. If it is low, we will correct it to a normal level before proceeding.
The cornea of your eye is where laser surgery is performed. The cornea does not have blood vessels. The cornea gets nutrition from the tear film on the surface and the fluid inside the eye (the aqueous).
The way the front of the cornea heals after laser surgery is dependent on how healthy the tear film is.
- An important factor is lactoferrin. We feel it is important when there is any suspicion of dry eye to have the tear film lactoferrin measured.
- If it is low, studies have shown that there is an increased chance of needing a fine tune surgery.
- Enhancement or fine tuning surgery is common in refractive surgery and helps people achieve their best vision but it is also important that we do whatever is in our control to minimize the chance of further surgery. This test can be helpful in accomplishing that.
- Punctal plugs are a way of plugging the tear drainage system so that your own natural tears stay on your cornea longer. Punctal plugs can increase the tear film quantity and also increase the concentration of important healing factors such as lactoferrin.
The LASIK procedure is the right answer for most patients who are considering refractive surgery to improve their vision. However, in patients with higher degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness, the cornea may be too thin to allow full refractive correction.
In these cases, surgical implants may be the best alternative. These special devices are placed in the eyes to improve their focusing ability.
