[Clinical observation of dry eye in patients before and after cataract surgery].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate dry eye in patients before and after cataract surgery.

METHODS

25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ25) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were used for the study in 37 patients (50 eyes) 3 days before cataract surgery and repeated after surgery 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. Slit lamp microscope examination, cornea and conjunctiva fluorescein staining, tear break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test I (STI), impression cytology (IC) were carried out at the same time.

RESULTS

After cataract surgery, the incidence of dry eye increased dramatically. Tear river was narrowed, BUT and STI were decreased and shorted in patients after cataract surgery. IC examination showed there was serious squamous metaplasia in epithelial layer of conjunctiva. NEI-VFQ25 was increased from 27.66 +/- 22.08 (before cataract surgery) to 74.69 +/- 11.67 (3 months after cataract surgery). All items of OSDI were remarkable increased, ocular surface abnormal was increased from 2.60 +/- 2.91 (before cataract surgery) to 12.66 +/- 11.40 (3 months after cataract surgery) and environmental trigger was increased from 3.57 +/- 2.67 (before cataract surgery) to 11.40 +/- 10.24 (3 months after cataract surgery).

CONCLUSION

Dry eye can be induced or deteriorated after cataract surgery, if it can not be treated on time.