Posters

Changes in tear film and their influence on visual acuity after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Poster Details

First Author: S.Matic CROATIA

Co Author(s):    I. Pivic-Kovacevic   J. Barac   M. Jelic-Vukovic   M. Matic           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to show the incidence of tear film instability after uncomplicated ultrasound phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients without previous tear film instability and to show it’s influence on the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) one month after the surgery.

Setting:

Prospective cohort study included 30 patients of both gender with cataract who underwent uncomplicated ultrasound phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Exclusion criteria were pre-existing ocular surface disease and tear film instability,topical antiglaucoma therapy, lid disorders,grade 5 cataract,punctate epitheliopathy, corneal disorders and surgeries, diabetic and posterior segment diseases,retinal surgeries, maculopathy,previous or active uveitis.

Methods:

All patients underwent full ophthalmic examination, corneal fluorescein staining, tear film break-up time test (TBUT) and visual acuity assessment on the day of the surgery and 30 days after the surgery. The difference in TBUT before and after phacoemulsification cataract surgery and the difference in BCVA before and after the cataract surgery were examined. All patients underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery followed by intraocular lens implantation performed by the same surgeon. The mean age of patients was 73±7.Most of patients were  females (53%) versus male (47%), with no statistically significant difference between gender (Fisher exact test,p-value=0.72).

Results:

BCVA was significantly improved after surgery with preoperative median BCVA 0,2±0,1 and postoperative BCVA 1,0(-0,1)(Wilcoxon test,P < 0,001).TBUT was significantly worse in comparison to preoperative measurement.Preoperative median TBUT was 10±2.Postoperatively 6/30 patients had TBUT<5 s and 24/30 patients had TBUT measurement between 6-10 seconds (Wilcoxon test,p<0,001).Fluorescein staininig was negative preoperatively in all patients and positive in 10/30 patients after the surgery. 5/30 patients reported subjective symptoms of dry eye after the surgery (TBUT< 5 and positive fluorescein staining).There was no significant difference in visual acuity considering the dry eye symptoms (p=0,51, Mann-Whitney U test).

Conclusions:

The present study has shown that uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery influences tear film instability, worsening TBUT test measurement and corneal fluorescein staining test, but fortunately with no statistically significant impact on postoperative BCVA one month after the surgery. Authors have no financial disclosure.

Financial Disclosure:

None