Posters

Ocular surface dysfunction after cataract surgery

Poster Details

First Author: L.Mikalauskienė LITHUANIA

Co Author(s):    L. Mikalauskienė   R. Žemaitienė                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate dry eye syndrome and ocular surface parameters in patients after cataract surgery.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health sciences.

Methods:

A prospective clinical study included 48 eyes of 48 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification. Information including gender, age, medical history were recorded. Patients who underwent ocular surgery in last 2 months or had other ocular comorbidities, such as glaucoma, uveitis were excluded from the study. Patients underwent slit-lamp examination of ocular surface, tear break-up time, Schirmer’s I test, Cochet-Bonnet aesteziometry and in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated using Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. All tests were assessed at baseline and one month postoperative.

Results:

There were 32 (66.7 %) women; 16 (33.3 %) men, mean age 74.1 ± 5.4 (SD). Mean tear break-up time at baseline were 8.6 ± 1.9, 1 month postoperative - 7.7 ± 2.7, p<0.05. Accordingly, Schirmer’s I test was 8.7 ± 3.9 versus 7.7 ± 2.7, p<0.05. Corneal sensation did not change significantly (median 5.5 mm), p>0.05. Mean corneal density at baseline was 15.704 ± 2.339, 1 month postoperative - 14.942 ± 1.477 mm/mm2, p<0.05 (total nerve fibers numbers were 12.0 ± 2.4 versus 11.5 ± 2.4, p>0.05). OSDI questionnaire score - 12.2 ± 10.3 versus 13.8 ± 10.9, p<0.05.

Conclusions:

Tear break-up time, Schirmer's I test, OSDI score changed significantly one month after cataract surgery. In vivo confocal microscopy showed decreased corneal nerve density, although there was no significant change in total corneal nerve fiber number or corneal sensation.

Financial Disclosure:

None