Comparative analysis on the changes of ocular surface and tear film after small incision manual nucleus delivery for cataract with hard nucleus

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect of small incision manual nucleus delivery and phacoemulsification on ocular surface and tear film for patients with hard nucleus cataract. Methods The clinical data of 60 eyes of 60 patients with hard nucleus cataract were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were randomly divided into small incision group and phacoemulsification group with 30 eyes of 30 cases in each group. The small incision group underwent cataract extraction with small incision manual nucleus delivery. The followed-up time was 3 months. Results The tear river height(TMH) and tear break-up time(BUT) in 1 week and 1 month after surgery were lower than those before surgery (all P<0.05). The corneal fluorescein staining(FS) and questionnaire score were increased in 1 week and 1 month after surgery (P<0.05). The Schirmer I test(SIt) were increased in 1 week after surgery (P<0.05). The score of corneal FS, SIt and questionnaire score in small incision group was significantly higher than those in phacoemulsification group in 1 week after surgery(P<0.05). Conclusion There is great effect of small incision manual nucleus delivery for hard nucleus cataract on ocular surface and tear film at the early stage after surgery, but there is no difference of effect at late stage compared with phacoemulsification. Key words: Cataract, hard nucleus; Small incision manual, nucleus delivery; Dry eye; Tear film