Can you have lens replacement with dry eyes​?

Many people think about lens replacement to improve their vision.
At the same time, many people also have dry eyes.

This leads to a common question:

“Can you have lens replacement with dry eyes?”

The short answer is yes, but dry eyes need care first.

In this blog, we explain:

• What lens replacement is
• What dry eye is
• How dry eyes affect lens replacement
• Why treatment before surgery matters
• What you can do next

What is lens replacement?

Lens replacement is a type of eye surgery.

It is also called:

• Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

During lens replacement:

• The natural lens is removed
• A clear artificial lens is put in its place

It can help with:

• Long sight
• Short sight
• Reading vision
• Cataracts

What is dry eye?

Dry eye happens when:

• Your eyes do not make enough tears, or
• Your tears dry up too fast

Tears are important.
They keep your eyes:

• Smooth
• Comfortable
• Clear

When tears do not work well, eyes can feel sore.

Common dry eye symptoms

Dry eyes can cause:

• Burning or stinging
• A gritty feeling
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Watery eyes
• Tired or heavy eyes

Symptoms can be mild or severe.

Can you have lens replacement if you have dry eyes?

Yes, you can.

But it is very important to know: Dry eyes should be checked and treated before lens replacement.

This helps make sure your results are as good as possible.

Why do dry eyes matter before lens replacement?

Dry eyes can affect lens replacement in a few ways.

1. Dry eyes can affect eye measurements

Before surgery, special tests are done.

These tests help choose:

• The right lens power
• The best lens type

Dry eyes can make these tests less accurate.

Treating dry eye helps improve accuracy.

2. Dry eyes can affect healing

After surgery:

• Eyes need time to heal
• Tears help protect the eye

If eyes are dry:

• Healing may feel slower
• Eyes may feel more uncomfortable

3. Dry eyes can feel worse after surgery

Lens replacement can:

• Temporarily increase dryness
• Make eyes feel sore

Treating dry eye first can reduce this risk.

Does dry eye mean surgery must be delayed?

Sometimes.

If dry eye is mild:

• Surgery may still go ahead
• Extra care is taken

If dry eye is moderate or severe:

• Treatment may be needed first
• Surgery may be planned later

This helps protect comfort and vision.

How is dry eye checked before lens replacement?

A dry eye assessment looks at:

• Tear quality
• Tear stability
• Oil gland health
• Eyelid condition
• Inflammation

This helps plan the right care.

How is dry eye treated before surgery?

Dry eye treatment is personal.

It may include:

• Preservative-free eye drops
• Warm eye masks
• Eyelid cleaning
• Lifestyle advice
• IPL treatment

Many people feel improvement within weeks.

Can lens replacement cure dry eyes?

No.

Lens replacement does not cure dry eye.

Some people may notice:

• Dry eye stays the same
• Dry eye improves
• Dry eye feels worse for a short time

Ongoing care may still be needed.

What happens if dry eye is not treated first?

If dry eye is ignored:

• Vision results may be less clear
• Eyes may feel sore
• Recovery may be slower
• More treatment may be needed after surgery

Preparing the eyes gives better results.

Should I tell my clinic about dry eye symptoms?

Yes. Always mention if you have:

• Dryness
• Grittiness
• Burning
• Watery eyes
• Tired eyes

Even mild symptoms matter.

Why choose My Eye Clinic in Gosforth?

At My Eye Clinic, we:

• Check dry eye carefully before surgery
• Treat the cause, not just symptoms
• Offer modern dry eye treatments
• Help prepare eyes for lens replacement

Our goal is clear vision and comfortable eyes.

Take the dry eye suitability self-test

If you are thinking about lens replacement and have dry eyes, help is available.

Take our quick dry eye suitability self-test to see if a dry eye assessment may be right for you.