Tear osmolarity after cataract surgery

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the changes in tear film osmolarity and Schirmer I test after cataract surgery. Methods This single-center, prospective study included patients with no subjective complaints about dry eye disease. Patients with the following conditions were excluded: contact lens wearers, patients with diabetes, pseudoexfoliation, pterygia, and eye drops users. The eye that had not undergone surgery was considered the control group. Tear osmolarity and Schirmer I test were evaluated before surgery and during the first postoperative month. Results Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in the study. Before surgery, tear osmolarity was 301.2 ± 15.09 Osm/L in the study group and 302.3 ± 14.21 mOsm/L in the control group ( P = 0.2), while Schirmer I test averaged 13.4 ± 10.50 mm in the study group and 13.7 ± 10.79 mm in the control group ( P = 0.6). The next morning, the tear osmolarity decreased to <275 mOsm/L in the study group while in the control group, the value increased to 303.1 mOsm/L ± 13.68 ( P = 0.008). The Schirmer I test in the same morning showed an increase up to 19.9 ± 9.73 mm in the study group and to 15.7 ± 10.19 mm in the control group ( P = 0.01). One week later, the tear osmolarity increased to 311.8 ± 14.85 mOsm/L, while the control group averaged 301.7 ± 11.84 mOsm/L ( P = 0.013). The Schirmer I test results decreased to 15.8 ± 9.37 mm in the study group and 13.9 ± 10.19 mm in the control group ( P = 0.07) one week after the surgery. One month after surgery, tear osmolarity and Schirmer I test results in the study group decreased to the control group level ( P > 0.05). Conclusions The tear osmolarity results increased to the dry eye disease level in the first postoperative week. Over the course of one month, the difference in tear osmolarity and Schirmer I test values for the study and control groups leveled off.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Dry Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Table 2 summarizes the severity peak and duration of DED after cataract surgery. Although early postoperative ocular surface changes began to recover within a month of cataract surgery [ 38 ], most studies reported that DED parameters, including subjective symptoms, TFBUT, CFS, tear secretion volume, and MGD, did not recover to baseline values by the end of the study, indicated as “> (study period).” The peaks of DED severity usually occurred 1 week after cataract surgery, although the reported values ranged from 1 month to more than 1 year [ 6 , 17 , 19 – 23 , 26 , 27 , 29 – 35 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 44 , 57 , 58 ]. Notably, eight out of the 22 articles that reported severity peak at 1 month postoperatively had their first measurement at 1 month [ 22 , 26 , 29 – 31 , 35 , 43 , 46 ].…”

“…Pathological changes and inflammatory kinetics preceding DED after cataract surgery are crucial when determining postoperative treatment and management. DED severity after cataract surgery tends to peak around 1 week postoperatively [ 6 , 19 , 20 , 32 , 34 , 40 – 42 , 44 , 45 , 52 – 54 ]. Notably, numerous studies reported postoperative follow-ups scheduled after 1 week and 1 month, and the true peak of DED symptoms most likely lies within this time period.…”

Changes in Tear Osmolarity after Cataract Surgery

“…1E). Elksnis et al reported that tear osmolarity increased significantly at the first week after surgery, but it decreased to the preoperative level four weeks after surgery 25 . However, González-Mesa et al reported no differences in tear osmolarity between before and after the operation 26 .…”

Changes in tear film osmolarity after 25G+ PPV

“…The conclusions of these studies vary. Some describe a short-term increase in osmolarity after cataract surgery [ 14 ]. However, others show that after cataract surgery there is no statistically significant change in tear film osmolarity [ 15 , 16 ].…”