The changes in lower lid position & laxity post cataract surgery

Abstract

To evaluate the changes relating to lower lid position and laxity after cataract surgery.This is prospective study evaluating the lower eyelid position of patients who underwent cataract surgery from June to September 2019. Data collected includes duration of the cataract surgery, the duration of the speculum remaining insitu. Also we included measurements relating to the distraction test, distance of the lower lacrimal punctum from the inner canthus, and margin reflex distance 2 (MRD2) were performed 1 day, 2 weeks & 3 months post surgery. The data was analysed in Microsoft Excel & SPSS software. The study sample comprised 109 cataract patients, all of whom were of South Indian ethnicity, 68 (62.3%) were female with a median age of 74 years, and 67 (61.4%) had surgery in their left eye. The distraction test before surgery was 6.5 ± 0.2 mm, with mild increase after 1 day (7.3 ± 0.3 mm), sustained after 14 days (7.5 ± 0.2 mm), and decreasing after 3 months (7.0 ± 0.5 mm) to a level similar to the initial values (P = 0.02). The lower (lacrimal) lid punctum distance from the inner canthus preoperatively was 6.5 ± 0.3 mm and 7.4 ± 0.2 on day 1 post operatively, 7.2 ± 0.3 two weeks post operatively, 7.0 ± 0.4 mm at 3 months postoperatively (P = 0.04) [Table 1]. The MRD2 preoperatively was 5.0 ± 0.1 mm, 5.4 ± 0.1 mm at 1 days postoperatively, 5.2 ± 0.2 mm at 2 weeks, and 5.4 ± 0.3 mm at 3 months after surgery (P = 0.02). : An increase in lower lid laxity was noted on distraction test & lacrimal lower punctum distance post cataract surgery. Although such a change is expected in the common cataract surgery age group, there seems to be a definite increment noted in the post surgery group.