Comparative study of dry eye after Phacoemulsification in senile cataract

Background:Corneal surgery has been identified as one of the risk factors for the development of dry eye disease by decreasing corneal sensation and changing the contour of the ocular surface as a result of the inflammation caused by surgical trauma. Clear cornea phacoemulsification may also alter the ocular surface and disrupts normal tear function in eyes. The purpose of study to compare dry eye caused by phacoemulsification in different age groups in senile cataract patient with no pre-existing dry eye.Methods: After taking informed consent 50 eyes of 50 patient of senile cataract with no preoperative dry eye had under gone 2.75 mm superior clear corneal phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. After ruling out pre-existing ocular disease, surgery ,trauma and systemic diseases, Dry Eye evaluation by schirmer1test , FTBUT and lissamine conjunctival staining was done pre and postoperatively at 1st ,4th and 12th week .Data was collected and analysed on IBM SPSS version 23 by paired T test.Results: In all age group, S1T and FTBUT, conjunctival staining showed lowest values at 1stweek (p <0.05) and by 12th week values has come near to base line value (p <0.05). Results showed only 38% of cases in 45-55 age group, 50% in 56-65 age group and all the cases showed dry eye in 66-75 age group at 12th week.Conclusions: We have concluded that phacoemulsification surgery affects the tear film stability and the production of tears postoperatively and causes dry eye more in the older age group.