Preoperative noninvasive screening of dry eye in patients scheduled for cataract surgery

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate the rate of dry eye via noninvasive ocular surface screening in patients scheduled for senile cataract surgery.Methods: Non‐invasive objective evaluation of ocular surface was performed in the eye undergoing cataract surgery by means of Keratograph 5 M (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) for the evaluation of: (i) tear menis‐cus height (TMH); (ii) non‐invasive break‐up time (NIBUT‐first). Subjective evaluation of ocular dis‐comfort symptoms was carried out by Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.Results: Thirty‐seven eyes of 37 patients (22 males and 15 females; mean age 73.68 ± 7.35 years) were ana‐lyzed. Of these, 28 eyes (75.67% of total) had altered values of NIBUT‐first and OSDI questionnaire (respectively 4.35 ± 2.74 s and 25.82 ± 17.29) but normal TMH values (0.40 ± 0.21); 4 eyes (10.81%) showed pathological values of OSDI score (35.75 ± 11.32) but normal values of TMH and NIBUT (respectively 0.46 ± 0.16 mm and 16.27 ± 5.33 s); 5 eyes (13.51%) had normal values of TMH, NIBUT and OSDI (respectively 0.48 ± 0.14, 11.28 ± 2.98, and 10.6 ± 3.13).Conclusions: A fast and noninvasive screening of dry eye in patients undergoing cataract surgery showed that about three‐fourth of these patients had altered tear film stability and ocular discomfort symptoms. A prompt and customized treatment is needed in these patients preoperatively in order to optimize the surgical outcomes.