Best Eye Drop After LASIK Surgery

Dry eyes after LASIK are common. Here’s how to choose the best eye drops for each stage of healing, what eye doctors told us they recommend, and when to call your surgeon.

Finding the best eye drops after LASIK starts with understanding why your eyes feel dry. Dryness is common in the first few weeks of healing. Your vision often improves quickly, but tear stability takes longer to recover. If your surgeon gave you specific instructions, follow those first. If not, here’s how to understand your options and use them safely.

Why eye drops matter after LASIK

During LASIK, corneal nerves that help regulate tear production are temporarily disrupted. As they regenerate, your eyes may produce fewer tears, blink less completely, and lose moisture to evaporation faster.

Lubricating drops add moisture to the eye’s surface and help with comfort during healing. If you want to understand what dry eye actually is beyond “eyes that feel dry,” it helps to know that tear quality matters as much as tear quantity. That’s why choosing the right type of drop matters.

Before surgery: start with your eyelids

Many eye doctors want the healthiest possible eye surface before surgery, so they often start with basic eyelid hygiene. If your doctor recommends it, a lid cleanser or lid wipe makes that easy:

• Foaming cleansers: the Peeq Pro eyelid cleanser or the EyeEco Tea Tree Eyelid & Facial Cleanser
• Lid wipes and pads: Optase Tea Tree Oil Wipes or Oasis LID & LASH Tea Tree Oil Cleansing Pads

Your doctor may also suggest starting lubricating drops before surgery.

Prescription drops right after surgery

Right after LASIK, surgeons commonly prescribe two kinds of medicated drops:

• An antibiotic drop, such as moxifloxacin or ofloxacin, to help prevent infection
• A steroid drop, such as prednisolone acetate or dexamethasone, to help control inflammation

Types of lubricating drops after LASIK

Lubricating drops (artificial tears)

These drops add moisture to the eye’s surface and help with dryness and irritation. They’re the foundation of post-LASIK dryness management. Thinner drops work well during the day, while thicker or gel drops are often used at night if your surgeon approves.

Preserved vs. preservative-free

A simple selection guide

• Mild dryness, occasional use: standard lubricating drops
• Moderate dryness, frequent use: preservative-free artificial tears
• Nighttime dryness: gel drops or ointment, if your surgeon approves
• Persistent or worsening dryness: contact your surgeon

What’s the best eye drop after LASIK surgery? What eye doctors told us

We asked eye doctors who perform LASIK or co-manage post-LASIK care which drops they recommend. Here’s what we heard:

• Preservative-free artificial tears were the strong favorite after surgery. Options mentioned included Systane Complete PF and OPTASE Intense.
• Lipid-containing drops also came up often, such as OPTASE MGD Advanced, Refresh Optive Mega-3 PF and Refresh Optive Advanced. Doctors also mentioned Oasis Tears PF Plus.
• Refresh Optive Mega-3 PF was the most popular single choice among the doctors we spoke with.

If your surgeon gives you a clear recommendation, follow it. If their advice is unclear, Refresh Optive Mega-3 PF is a good one to ask them about.

Refresh Optive Mega-3 PFPreservative-free, lipid-enhanced drops with flaxseed oilView drop Systane Complete PFPreservative-free lubricant eye dropsView drop OPTASE MGD AdvancedPreservative-free lipid microemulsionView drop OPTASE IntensePreservative-free eye dropsView drop

See the full lineup in our eye drops collection.

How often should you use eye drops after LASIK?

Your surgeon will give you specific guidance, but a general pattern looks like this:

1. Weeks 1 to 2: often every 1 to 2 hours while awake
2. Weeks 3 to 6: gradually reduce as symptoms improve
3. Months 2 to 3: use as needed

Your environment can change how often you need them. Long hours of screen time reduce how often you blink, and dry air and indoor heating speed up tear evaporation. On those days, you may need drops more often.

Safe use tips

• Wash your hands before putting in drops
• Don’t touch the bottle tip to your eye
• Wait 5 minutes between different types of drops
• Store preservative-free vials as directed, and throw away single-use vials after opening

Support your tear film with eyelid hygiene

Drops add moisture, and healthy eyelids help keep it there. The oil glands along your lash line release oils that slow tear evaporation. When those glands are clogged with buildup, dryness can linger even with regular drops. This is especially common for people who dealt with dryness from contact lenses for years before surgery.

Once your surgeon clears you to clean around your eyes, usually after the initial healing period, a gentle eyelid cleanser can be a helpful addition. A simple, consistent eyelid hygiene routine paired with your lubricating drops gives you more complete dry eye support. These tips for building a daily eyelid hygiene habit make it easier to stick with.

When to ask your surgeon

Your surgeon may recommend prescription anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs, lipid-based tear supplements or in-office dry eye treatments. If prescription drops come up, our comparison of Restasis vs. Xiidra explains how the two most common options differ, and our Cequa vs Restasis guide covers another option.

For general education only and not medical advice. Always follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions and product labeling. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners; mentions are examples, not endorsements.