Abstract
Purpose: :
An unclear consequence of cataract surgery is ocular surface discomfort reported by a high number of patients. The aim of our project was to investigate symptoms of dry eye and signs of ocular surface damage in normal subjects after cataract surgery.
Methods: :
Forty subjects who underwent phacoemulsification for cataract extraction were assessed by means of modified OSDI Questionnaire, Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (BUT), lissamine green conjunctival staining (NEI scoring system), and fluorescein corneal staining before surgery and 1, 7, 30, and 60 days after surgical procedures with corneal access performed on the corneal temporal side with a width of 2.75 mm . The Dynamic Lipid Interference Pattern (DLIP) test was used to quantify tear film stability at each follow up.
Results: :
Statistically significant changes in symptoms, corneal fluorescein staining, lissamine green conjunctival staining, BUT and DLIP occurred in the study group at day 1 and 7. At day 30 changes were recorded compared to baseline for BUT and DLIP, and at day 60 for DLIP only. Schirmer test did not show any significant changes throughout the study.
Conclusions: :
This study indicates that cataract surgery may induce a clinical picture similar to dry eye, pointing out possible risks in patients with previous ocular surface diseases. Further studies are necessary for a better comprehension of the consequence of cataract extraction on the ocular surface, and on the effect of dry eye-like therapy.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • cornea: clinical science • cataract