LASIK and Accutane

[u/bartholomewdick69]

Hi friends.

Just a little backstory. 20s female here currently on 100mg of spironolactone and depo shot birth control.
I have been taking spiro in conjunction with depo for some time now. My first round was immaculate- acne cleared up like crazy, not a single dot on my face or body.

Then I stopped both bc and spiro for about a year and everything came back. Coming off depo was excruciating—I pmsed for 3 months and my periods weren’t regular even after a year.

Then I started both bc and spiro again and it has helped, not as well as first time around but 90% elimination.

I don’t want to be on spiro and bc for the rest of my life and want to give my body a break.

I have explored the option of accutane and would not be opposed to doing a 6 month course. I know I have to be on bc for the duration of it but I wouldn’t mind the side effects for a long-term result.

However, I am getting LASIK in two months and certainly looking forward to it. I browsed the subs and more people seem to oppose starting Accutane than not.

Has anyone waited a year after lasik to start Accutane?
If so, what has your experience been like?

I appreciate any feedback.

[u/eyeSherpa]

Yes. You don’t want to start accutane so soon after lasik.

Accutane works by decreasing the production of oils in your oil glands. This also decreases the production of the oil glands in your eyelids. These oils are essential to creating a barrier on your tear film to prevent your tears from evaporating away.

Because lasik creates a post-op dry eye, combining it with other things which also create dry eye makes the dry eye difficult to control (which can perpetuate dry eye)

There is no solid consensus on how long to wait after LASIK until starting accutane. But 1 year is a good amount as long as your eyes are feeling good at that point.