The Examining the Role of Cataract Surgery in Causing Dry Eye Syndrome
Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences,
Vol. 6 No. 3 (2022),
14 Aban 2023,
Page 20-27
https://doi.org/10.22037/joos.v6i3.43890
Purpose: To investigate the effect of cataract surgery on dry eye.
Patients and Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients who were candidates for cataract surgery were enrolled, and three methods for evaluating dry eye, such as the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer 1 test, and non-invasive tear film break-up time (NI-BUT) measured using the Sirius device, were utilized before surgery and one month after surgery, and the results were compared.
Results: Eighty eyes of 80 patients, including 34 males and 46 females, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 65.2 ± 7.3 years. In the conducted evaluations, the numerical results of the OSDI questionnaire increased from 27.52 ± 12.26 before the surgery to 32.42 ± 13.91 one month after surgery (P < 0.01). The tear film break-up time using the Sirius device before surgery was 8.52 ± 5.09 seconds, which decreased to 5.37 ± 3.73 seconds after surgery (P < 0.001). In the Schirmer 1 test, the results changed from 7.89 ± 2.25 millimeters before surgery to 7.42 ± 2.38 millimeters after surgery (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: This study’s results suggest that cataract surgery is a predisposing factor for increased dry eye symptoms and can exacerbate the severity of the disease in patients with a history of dry eye.