Effect of a One-Week Lubricant Pretreatment on Post-LASIK Dry Eye: Single-Center Randomized, Single-Masked Study With 1-Month Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report the results of a prospective study on ocular discomfort and objective tear film parameters (osmolarity and NIKBUT), in myopic patients, and observe the possible differences at 1 month between randomized groups in the use of topical lubricants 1 week prior to surgery or just after surgery.

METHODS

This is a prospective, single masked, randomized, comparative study. Refractive error and UDVA, BCVA, tear osmolarity, OSDI test, and keratograph analysis of the tear film were performed per patient by a masked examiner before and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after FS-LASIK performed to correct myopia in both pre and post groups. A total of 22 patients per group were included.

RESULTS

Mean age was 32.27 ± 5.4 and 32.85 ± 5.3 years, and mean preop sphere was -3.17 ± 2.3 and 2.75 ± 1.3 D in pre and post groups, respectively (p > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was found in preoperative OSDI, tear osmolarity, or NIKBUT between both groups. In the whole cohort, the OSDI worsened significantly from a preop value of 6.94 ± 7.15 to a value of 15.66 ± 12.55 at 1-month postop (p < 0.0001).We did not find any statistically significant differences in the OSDI score, NIKBUT, or osmolarity at the 1-month postop between the pre and post groups.

CONCLUSION

Femto-LASIK increased OSDI at 1 month. One-week pretreatment with hyaluronate-HP-guar did not improve symptoms, osmolarity, or NIKBUT compared with postoperative use only. More trials with longer follow-up are needed. Trial Registration: Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS): Code 25-0055.