Follow up of dry eye after cataract phacoemalsification

Objective To observe changes of dry eye after cataract phacoemalsification surgery.Methods Prospective non-randomized study. Forty-eight eyes from 48 patients without preoperative dry eye were involved. Dry eye symptoms score, tear break-up time(t BUT) and Schirmer Ⅰ test ( ST-Ⅰ ) were measured before surgery and 7 days, 1 month, 3 months after surgery. Operation time under microscope and phacoemusification time were record. Statistical analyses were performed. Results Four cases were lost to follow up,two cases withdrew,and forty-two cases completed follow up. Symtoms score at 7 days postoperatively increased significantly compared with the preoperative values ( P 0. 05). Tear break-up time at any postoperative timepoint were worse than preoperative values (P 0. 05). Significant correlation was noted between symptoms score, tBUT, ST- Ⅰ at any postoperative timepoint and operation time under microscope. There was no correlation between symptoms score, tBUT,ST- Ⅰ at any postoperative timepoint and phacoemusification time. Conclusion Dry eye may occur after cataract surgery. Dry eye symptoms, tear film stability and tear secretory valume are worse in early postoperative period, and dry eye symptoms and tear secretory valume are gradually restored with time, while tear film stability is still less at 3 months postoperativly. Operation time under microscope may have an adverse effect on dry eye. Key words: cataract phacoemalsification surgery;  dry eye;  tear