Frequency of Dry Eyes after Cataract Surgery and Effect of Gender, Duration of Cataract and Age on Dry Eye Symptoms after Phacoemulsification

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the frequency of dry eyes in patients after cataract surgery and to find out the effect of gender, duration of cataract and age on dry eye symptoms after phacoemulsification. Study Design: Descriptive Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Layton Rehmatulla Benevolent Trust Free Eye and Cancer Hospital, Lahore from October 2015 to April 2016. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients between 40-80 years of age and suffering from cataract were included. Past medical history and current medical information was recorded. To control bias, only one experienced surgeon carried out the procedures. Follow-up was done at 1st post-operative day, one week, one month and 3 months. Tear film break up time was noted at each visit. Quantitative variables like age and tear film break-up time (TBUT) were presented as mean ± SD. The Qualitative variables were presented as frequency and percentages. Data was stratified according to age, gender and duration of cataract. Post-stratification Chi-square test was applied and p-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 120 patients, there were 47 (39%) males and 73 (61%) females. A total of 35 (29.2%) patients had dry eyes. Mean age was 59.11 ± 12.358 years while mean TBUT was 11.27 ± 2.582 seconds. There was no relation of dry eye with gender, duration of cataract and different age groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Frequency of Dry eyes after cataract surgery was 29.2% (n = 35). There was no effect of gender, duration of cataract and age of the patient on the post-operative TBUT after phacoemulsification.

Changes in Tear Film and Ocular Surface after Phacoemulsification for Senile Cataract

“…These findings were consistent with the results of a study conducted by Rahim et al 21 in which it was reported that overall frequency of "dry eye disease" was 29.2%. Similar results were observed in a study conducted by Hamad et al 16 who reported that A. Anwar, M. M. Chaudhry, S. Ahmed et al P J M H S Vol.…”

“…Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification is one of the commonest surgical procedure that is performed in the field of ophthalmology. It has been found associated with many complications including corneal edema 18 , increased intraocular pressure that may lead to glaucoma 19 , incomplete recovery of visual acuity 19 , intraocular lens drop 20 and dry eye disease 21 . "Dry eye disease" occurs secondary to changes in the "ocular surface" and the "tear film" that are induced by the cataract surgery by phacoemulsification.…”