TEAR FILM CHANGES AFTER PHACOEMULSIFICATION
Nada G.Fekri, Madeha A. Kamel, Nesma S. Mohammed
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine (For Girls), Al-Azhar University
Objective: To assess the effect of phacoemulsification surgery on the tear film production and stability. Patients and Methods: 40 eyes of 33 patients who has senile cataract and not complaining of dry eye were enrolled in this prospective interventional non randomized clinical study. They underwent phacoemulsification surgery. Tear film has been assessed preoperative, 1 week and 1 month after the surgery using, slit lamp examination, ocular surface staining, tear film break up time (TBUT) and Schirmer test without anesthesia. Results: There was a significant worsening of ocular surface staining and highly significant worsening of Schirmer test in 1 week after the surgery and both started to be improved 1 month after the surgery. For TBUT and other items examined by slit lamp there is insignificant change statistically. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification surgery can affect the normal tear film both secretion and stability. This temporary effect starts to be improved 1 month after the surgery.
December 2018