Dry eye cannot be operated on. But it can be treated — and with more options than many patients realise.
Dry eye, as such, cannot be operated on. It is not a condition that is resolved by surgery, but rather one that is chronic in most cases and managed with treatment. It is one of the most common questions patients ask, partly because many other eye conditions do have a surgical solution — but dry eye works differently.
What does exist are treatments and minor procedures that act on the causes of dry eye without being surgery as such. When the problem lies in the eyelid glands that produce the oily layer of the tear film (the most common cause), options such as intense pulsed light (IPL) or thermal pulsation (LipiFlow) may be considered when basic measures are not enough. They are carried out in the clinic, with no operating theatre and no incisions, and are usually applied in several sessions.
In more severe cases, where the surface of the eye has been damaged and conventional eye drops are insufficient, eye drops prepared from the patient’s own blood may be considered, such as autologous serum or platelet-rich growth factor plasma (PRGF/Endoret®). These are not surgery either: they are a treatment that supports the recovery of the ocular surface.
There is also a simple procedure: the placement of punctal plugs, tiny devices inserted into the duct through which the tear drains, so that it remains in the eye for longer. It is performed in the clinic and can be reversible, but again, it is not surgery in the conventional sense of the word.
So, if someone has spoken to you about “operating” on your dry eye, the most likely explanation is that they were referring to one of these treatments, not a classic surgical intervention. Which is the right one always depends on the specific cause of your dry eye and other factors, such as inflammation or the condition of the cornea — which is why the first step is a precise assessment of the ocular surface. From there, the most appropriate option for your case is determined.