Ocular Surface Status in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Patients after Cataract Surgery

Objective: To analyze the ocular surface status in meibomian gland dysfunction patients after cataract surgery. Methods: This was a prospective study. We studied 83 eyes of 67 meibomian gland dysfunction patients who were treated in the Ophthalmology Department of Shanghai Pudong Hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were studied and analyzed preoperatively and at 1 month, 2 months and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular symptom scores, lid margin abnormalities, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), tear film breakup time (BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠT), and lower tear meniscus height, depth, and area using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography were measured. Statistical methods are repeated measures of variance analysis. Results: The ocular symptom scores were worse at 1 month, 2 months and 3 months postoperatively (F=1193.031, P<0.001). BUT decreased postoperatively (F=21.042, P<0.001). However, lid margin abnormalities, CFS, lower tear meniscus (height, depth and area) and the SⅠT did not change significantly postoperatively. Conclusions: A worsening of ocular symptoms may occur without accompanying obvious structural changes in meibomian gland dysfunction patients after cataract surgery. Key words: meibomian gland dysfunction; cataract; ocular surface