Prevalence of dry eye after cataract surgery: the effect of topical rebamipide treatment

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Combined Cataract Surgery & Cataract Surgery Complications

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : S.Goto JAPAN

Co Author(s): :    T. Kawaji   T. Sato                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the prevalence of dry eye after cataract surgery and the effects of 2% rebamipide ophthalmic solution on postoperative dry eye.

Setting:

Sato Eye and Internal Medicine Clinic.

Methods:

Consecutive 71 patients presenting for cataract surgery evaluation were identified prospectively during June, 2018. Dry eye examination of tear breakup time (BUT), corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining scores, tear meniscus height obtained by optical coherence tomography and total subjective symptom score (10 symptoms) were conducted before surgery, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Eyes diagnosed with dry eye postoperatively received 2% rebamipide 4 times daily for 4 weeks.

Results:

At 4 weeks after surgery, 21 eyes were diagnosed with postoperative dry eye and then received 2% rebamipide. In total eyes, BUT was shortened significantly (P=0.045) and total subjective symptom score was significantly improved (P<0.001), but no significant changes in fluorescein staining score (P=0.17) and tear meniscus height (P=0.99) was seen. Total subjective symptom score also showed that there was significant difference between postoperative dry eye group and non-dry eye group (P=0.03), but not significantly before surgery (P=0.20). After the rebamipide treatment for 4 weeks, total subjective symptom score was significantly improved (P=0.04).

Conclusions:

Rebamipide has a capability to improve dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery. Subjective dry eye symptoms, which can be easily masked by cataract symptoms before surgery, seemed to become apparent after cataract surgery.

Financial Disclosure:

None