Written by Gangnam Brand Eye Clinic
2025.02.20
These days, fine dust and yellow dust are really severe, right? The cornea right after vision correction surgery is more prone to dryness and irritation, so it needs to be carefully managed.
Fine dust itself does not directly cause infections during the recovery process after LASIK or LASEK, but like other pollutants, it can irritate the eyes and lead to inflammation in the cornea during the recovery period. It is important to be cautious. For individuals who have had vision correction surgery within the past month, exposure to fine dust before the surgical site has fully healed can easily lead to infection or inflammation, so extra care is necessary. If a person had pre-existing dry eyes or sensitive eyes before the surgery, they might feel that their recovery takes longer compared to others. If you experience dryness after LASIK or LASEK, it is advisable to avoid going outside on days with high levels of fine dust. If you must go out, wearing protective eyewear or sunglasses can help significantly reduce the impact of external factors on your eyes.
Also, even if fine dust or other particles cause itching in your eyes, you should never rub your eyes. Rubbing can damage the weakened cornea after surgery and introduce bacteria from your hands, leading to a secondary infection. If you experience redness or itchiness due to fine dust, using preservative-free artificial tears prescribed by your eye doctor can help alleviate the symptoms.
Eyelash care is also important. Eyelashes serve as the first line of defense against foreign particles entering the eyes. On days with heavy fine dust, a lot of dust can accumulate on the eyelashes. If this dust is not properly removed, it can block the meibomian glands in the eyes, leading to dry eyes. Therefore, after going out on days with high fine dust, when washing your face at home, make sure to pay attention to cleaning around the eyelash area.
Additionally, it is advisable to avoid wearing contact lenses on days with high levels of fine dust. Even if you haven’t undergone LASIK or LASEK and wear contact lenses regularly, it is best not to wear them on days with severe fine dust. Fine dust can adhere to the lenses, causing eye irritation, so wearing glasses or sunglasses is recommended. If you must wear lenses out of necessity, it is best to use disposable lenses and discard them after use. If using disposable lenses is not possible, you should avoid wearing them for more than 8 hours. After going outside, immediately remove the lenses and pay extra attention to disinfecting and cleaning them. Finally, when washing your face, make sure to gently clean around the eyelash area as well.
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