Comparison on dry eye symptom between scleral tunnel incision and transparent corneal incision in phacoemulsification

Abstract

Objective To compare dry eye symptom between scleral tunnel incision and transparent corneal incision in phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Methods The data of 200 eyes of 194 cases with cataract underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were collected. They were divided randomly into the transparent corneal incision group , 100 eyes of 98 cases, and scleral tunnel incision group, 100 eyes of 96 cases. The dry eye symptom and Schirmer I test (SⅠt) after surgery were compared between the two groups. Results The dry eye symptom scores of the two groups were increased and decreased after a period of time.The dry eye symptom scores of the two groups at 1, 7 and 14 days after surgery were significantly higher than those before operation (P 0.05). In scleral tunnel incision group the dry eye symptom scores at 1, 7 and 14 days after surgery were significantly higher than those in transparent corneal incision group (P<0.05). Postoperative SⅠt of two groups were firstly increased and then decreased, and two groups of corneal fluorescein staining scores were decreased after increased (P<0.01). In scleral tunnel incision group SⅠt scores at 1, 7, 14 and 30 days after surgery were significantly lower than those in the transparent corneal incision group (P<0.05). After surgery breakup time (BUT) of two groups were decreased at first and then increased (P<0.01). The BUT in scleral tunnel incision group was significantly higher than that of the transparent cornea group (P<0.01). Conclusion Through scleral tunnel incision phacoemulsification can effectively reduce the influence of stability of tear film in early postoperative period, but the symptom of dry eye is more severe than that with clear corneal incision. The dry eye symptom effect of two incisions is not obvious at the end of the follow-up time. Key words: Phacoemulsification; Lens, intraocular; Scleral tunnel incision; Transparent corneal incision; Dry eye