Is dry eye normal after cataract surgery?

What's normal

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says almost all patients experience some level of dryness after cataract surgery, because nerves on the surface of the eye are disrupted during the procedure. Those nerves generally heal in about three months, which is why dryness often outlasts everything else.

It shows up as more than just a dry feeling. The AAO lists dry eye symptoms including stinging and burning, blurred vision especially when reading, a scratchy or gritty feeling like something is in your eye, red or irritated eyes, and excessive tearing. For mild cases the AAO mentions preservative free artificial tears, but ask your surgeon before adding any drop to your post-surgical routine.

Often noticeable from the first week and easing over roughly three months as the corneal nerves heal.

When it stops being normal

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says to contact your ophthalmologist if artificial tears do not provide relief, since there are other treatments and since persistent dryness can blur vision and slow how good your vision feels.

Dryness should not be painful in a growing way. The National Eye Institute says to contact your doctor about bad pain that will not go away even if you take medicine, very red eyes, or vision loss. Do not rub the eye to relieve dryness, since the AAO instructs patients not to rub or press on the eye after surgery.