BackgroundThe aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the course of dry eye syndrome after phacoemulsification surgery.MethodsOne hundred and ninety-two eyes of 96 patients (30 males, 66 females) with chronic dry eye syndrome and cataract, who had undergone phacoemulsification surgery were enrolled in this study.ResultsTheir mean age was 68.46 ± 8.14 standard deviation (SD) (range 56–83) years . Thirty of them (31 %) were males and 66 (69 %) were females. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores increased postoperatively, but arrived preoperative levels at the end of 3rd month following the surgery. Fluorescein staining patterns according to Oxford Schema got worse postoperatively, however after postoperative 3rd month they got better and resembled preoperative patterns. The mean postoperative 1st day, 1st week and 1st month Break-up Time (BUT) values were significantly lower than preoperative BUT value (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001), however 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year and 2nd year values were not significantly different from preoperative value (P = 0.441, P = 0.078, P = 0.145, P = 0.125). The mean postoperative 1st day, 1st week and 1st month Schirmer Test 1 (ST1) values were significantly lower than preoperative ST1 value (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001), however 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year and 2nd year values were not significantly different from preoperative value (P = 0.748, P = 0.439, P = 0.091, P = 0.214).ConclusionPhacoemulsification surgery may aggravate the signs and symptoms of dry eye and affect dry eye test values in chronic dry eye patients in short-term. However, in long-term, signs and symptoms of dry eye decrease and dry eye test values return to preoperative values.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12886-015-0058-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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We evaluated the effect of phacoemulsification surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber depth (ACD), iridocorneal angle (ICA), and central corneal thickness (CCT) of the patients with cataract and ocular hypertension. The decrease in IOP values of the 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month, and 1st year was statistically significant, but that of the 2nd year was not significant. The increase in ACD and ICA values of the 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month, and 1st year was statistically significant, but that of the 2nd year was not significant. The increase in CCT values of 1st week and 1st month was statistically significant, but those of 3rd month, 6th month, 1st year, and 2nd year were not significant. In conclusion, phacoemulsification surgery decreases IOP and increases ACD and ICA in the short-term. However, in the long-term it does not cause any significant changes.