Examining the Role of Cataract Surgery in Causing Dry Eye Syndrome

To investigate the effect of cataract surgery on dry eye.

In this prospective observational study, patients who were candidates for cataract surgery were enrolled, and three methods for evaluating dry eye, such as the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer 1 test, and non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT) measured using the Sirius device, were utilized before surgery and one month after surgery, and the results were compared.

Eighty eyes of 80 patients, including 34 males and 46 females, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 65.2 ± 7.3 years. In the conducted evaluations, the numerical results of the OSDI questionnaire increased from 27.52 ± 12.26 before the surgery to 32.42 ± 13.91 one month after surgery (P < 0.01). The tear film break-up time using the Sirius device before surgery was 8.52 ± 5.09 seconds, which decreased to 5.37 ± 3.73 seconds after surgery (P < 0.001). In the Schirmer 1 test, the results changed from 7.89 ± 2.25 millimeters before surgery to 7.42 ± 2.38 millimeters after surgery (P < 0.01).

This study’s results suggest that cataract surgery is a predisposing factor for increased dry eye symptoms and can exacerbate the severity of the disease in patients with a history of dry eye.