Abstract
PurposeTo evaluate the incidence and severity pattern of dry eye after phacoemulsification.SettingKing Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.DesignProspective descriptive study.MethodsSamples were collected from ninety-two uncomplicated cataract patients who were 18 years old or older. Dry eye incidence and pattern were analyzed at days 0, 7, 30 and 90 after phacoemulsification using (1) Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, (2) tear break up time (TBUT), (3) Oxford ocular surface staining system, and (4) Schirmer I test without anesthesia.ResultsSeven days after phacoemulsification, the incidence of dry eye was 9.8% (95% confidence interval; 3.6–16.0%). The severity of dry eye peaked seven days post-phacoemulsification and was measured by OSDI questionnaire and all three clinical tests. Within thirty days and 3 months post-surgery, both the symptoms and signs showed rapid and gradual improvements, respectively. However, dry eye post-phacoemulsification was not significantly associated with sex and systemic hypertension (P = 0.26, 0.17 and 0.73, respectively).ConclusionsThe incidence of dry eye after phacoemulsification was 9.8%. Symptoms and signs of dry eye occurred as early as seven days post-phacoemulsification and the severity pattern improved over time. We recommend that ophthalmologists should evaluate patients both before and after phacoemulsification to prevent further damage to the ocular surface and able to manage the patient promptly and effectively so the patient will not have a poor quality of life and vision due to dry eye syndrome.
Highlights
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. [1] Ocular symptoms such as pain, irritation, and poor vision can result from dry eye
Symptoms and signs of dry eye occurred as early as seven days post-phacoemulsification and the severity pattern improved over time
We recommend that ophthalmologists should evaluate patients both before and after phacoemulsification to prevent further damage to the ocular surface and able to manage the patient promptly and effectively so the patient will not have a poor quality of life and vision due to dry eye syndrome
Summary
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. [1] Ocular symptoms such as pain, irritation, and poor vision can result from dry eye. Severe dry eye affects the patient’s ocular and general health, well-being, and quality of life, [1,2,3] Since the dry eye syndrome is common worldwide, it can be caused by many things. Many patients who have undergone cataract surgery, the most common procedure performed in ophthalmic units, have complained of dry eye and symptoms of irritation postoperatively. Complications such as dry eye syndrome can occur after an extracapsular cataract extraction because a large incision is created in the eye during the procedure that sometimes damages the cornea. Few reports of dry eye syndrome have focused on patients who had undergone phacoemulsification and subsequently developed dry eye
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