Should Artificial Tears Be Used During the Preoperative Assessment of Toric IOLs Before Age-Related Cataract Surgery? The TORIDE Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of the use of artificial tears during the preoperative work-up performed before age-related cataract surgery, when a toric intraocular lens (IOL) was indicated.

METHODS

This was a monocentric prospective study assessing 73 eyes of 51 patients, included consecutively after a preoperative work-up performed without artificial tears (no artificial tears group), when a toric IOL was indicated. Each included patient underwent a second series of examinations: biometry using the IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) and topography using the OPD-Scan II (Nidek), 1 minute after artificial tears instillation (artificial tears group; hyaluronate de sodium 0.15%, threalose 3% [Théalose; Théa]). Changes in anterior corneal astigmatism and subsequent changes in toric IOL calculation were analyzed. The error in predicted residual astigmatism was calculated.

RESULTS

Anterior corneal astigmatism and total corneal astigmatism measured with the IOLMaster 700 were significantly modified when artificial tears were instilled before the examinations (1.51 ± 0.57 diopters [D], range: 0.75 to -3.55 vs 1.42 ± 0.63 D, range: 0.42 to 3.35 D; P = .043 and 1.59 ± 0.54 D, range: 0.87 to 3.48 vs 1.51 ± 0.59 D, range: 0.56 to 3.27 D, P = .038, respectively). This modification led to a change in IOL cylinder calculation in 43.8% of cases and to a change in implantation axis greater than 10° in 17.7% of cases. These changes were significantly greater in patients with a breakup time (BUT) less than 5 seconds (57.5% and 27.8%, with P = .009 and .029, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with a BUT of less than 5 seconds, the mean absolute error in predicted astigmatism was significantly lower after artificial tears instillation (0.48 ± 0.50 D, range: 0.00 to 2.79 vs 0.37 ± 0.25 D, range: 0.00 to 1.10 D, P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

Dry eye significantly impacted toric IOL calculations and should be taken into account during the preoperative assessments. Using artificial tears reduced the number of refractive errors. [J Refract Surg. 2021;37(11):759-766.].