Should test for dry eyes be done before age-related cataract surgery?

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine if tests for dry eyes should be done routinely before age-related cataract surgery. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based observational prospective study. Patients 50 years and above with age-related cataracts that met the inclusion criteria scheduled for manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) were assessed for dry eye disease (DED) before and after surgery. Numerical variables were described using the mean and standard deviation (SD) with a 95% confidence interval and P < 0.05. Results: A total of 81 patients were studied: 60.5% (49) males and 39.5% (32) females. The mean pre-operative Schirmer’s test value was 14.09 mm (SD = 10.7 mm). Post-operative schirmer’s test values were 18.12mm (SD = 11.81mm) at 1 week, 14.98mm (SD = 11.26mm) at 4 weeks and 16.20 mm (SD = 11.06 mm) at 6 weeks. Pre-operative mean tear break-up time (TBUT) was 10.05 (SD = 5.13 s), 9.46 s (SD = 4.18 s) at 1 week, 10.13 s (SD = 4.29 s) at 4 weeks and 9.80 s (SD = 4.33 s) at 6 weeks postoperatively. Lissamine green staining score (LGSS) Grade 0 was 80% at 1 week post-operative, Grade 0 increased to 85%, 90% at 4 weeks and 91% at post-operative 6 weeks. Conclusion: This study showed that DED is not associated with MSICS, and it is not associated with objective worsening of previously diagnosed DED. Testing for DED preoperatively plays a significant role in the pre-operative evaluation of patients and symptomatic expectations, but its testing before MSICS might not always be necessary.