[Click! Health] Winter Vacation Dilemma... Should I Get Double Eyelid Surgery or LASIK First?

Focus Should Be on Sufficient Recovery Time Rather Than Surgery Order

A person undergoing corneal topography examination ahead of LASIK surgery.
[Photo by Kim Eye Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Winter vacation is a popular time for vision correction surgery and double eyelid surgery. With more free time, some consider undergoing both surgeries together to get rid of the inconvenience of wearing glasses or contact lenses and to enhance their appearance. However, it is not advisable to have both surgeries consecutively without an appropriate interval. While it does not matter much which surgery is done first, there is a recommended order depending on specific conditions, so it is important to accurately understand the condition of your eyes.

Vision correction surgeries such as LASIK and LASEK are procedures to restore vision impaired by refractive errors like myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. Besides LASIK and LASEK, which involve laser reshaping of the cornea, there are SMILE LASIK, which involves minimal corneal incision, and intraocular lens implantation surgery that inserts a special lens without using a laser. Double eyelid surgery is performed on the upper eyelid’s single fold and includes the incision method, which creates a double eyelid line by cutting the skin, the non-incisional buried suture method, and the partial incision method, which is a hybrid of the two.

Double eyelid surgery is performed on the outer part of the eye, while vision correction surgery is done inside the eye, so the areas differ, making it difficult to have both surgeries simultaneously. One surgery can be done after the other. It is advisable to wait at least 1 to 3 months between surgeries to allow for recovery and stabilization of the surgical results. Since recovery periods vary by individual, surgical plans should always be made after consulting with a specialist.

If sufficient time is allowed between the two surgeries, the order does not significantly matter. However, if both surgeries must be done within a tight schedule, it is preferable to perform vision correction surgery first to minimize any potential negative effects. Although rare, changes in eyelid tension after double eyelid surgery can alter the shape of the cornea. Since vision correction surgery is designed based on corneal measurements, any change in corneal shape can reduce accuracy. Additionally, during vision correction surgery, a speculum is used to keep the eye open, and although unlikely, this can cause the double eyelid to loosen.

Conversely, if there is entropion, where eyelashes grow inward and poke the eyelid, it is better to have double eyelid surgery first. Entropion requires eyelid surgery to prevent eyelash irritation. If vision correction surgery is done first, the eyelashes may irritate the cornea, which becomes sensitive after surgery during the vision recovery process. This can delay healing or prevent vision from improving as expected, and in severe cases, the irritation can cause wounds to become inflamed or induce astigmatism, leading to further vision deterioration.

Hwang Gyu-yeon, a LASIK specialist at Kim Eye Hospital, said, "When considering both double eyelid surgery and vision correction surgery, it is important to focus on sufficient recovery rather than the order of surgeries when planning the procedures." He added, "Since these surgeries are performed on the sensitive area of the eyes, it is best to decide after a thorough examination and consultation with a trusted ophthalmology specialist to accurately understand your eye condition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.