Comparative Study Between Dryness Post Phacoemulsification And Post Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction

Abstract

The etiology of dry eye following cataract surgery is characterized by presence of either pre-existing dry eye or surgically-induced dry eye. Various factors might affect the ocular surface environment after cataract surgery. Most important is corneal desensitization,decrease in goblet cell size and corruption of the ocular surface integrity. The presented prospective comparative study was carried on 40 eyes of 40 patients arranged into 2 groups, 20 patients each (Group 1: planned for Phaco, Group 2: planned for Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE)) for which dry eye indices(tear film meniscus height, goblet cell density , rose Bengal staining ,shirmer 1 and tear break up time) were assessed preoperative,3 and 6 weeks postoperative. After both Phaco& ECCE, the changes between means of pre-operative, 3 weeks and 6 weeks visits were significant in tear film meniscus height, goblet cell density and rose Bengal staining, (p=0.01), and were insignificant in both shirmer 1 and tear break up time (p>0.05). And there was a significant deterioration after 3 weeks of surgery in tear film meniscus height, goblet cell density and rose Bengal staining followed by significant increase between 3rd and 6th weeks post-operative measurements in tear film meniscus height (p=0.01). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups (phaco&ECCE) in goblet cell density, shirmer 1, tear break up time in 3 weeks and 6 week visit than pre operation with more deterioration in group 2 (ECCE). And insignificant difference between 2 groups in in both tears film meniscus height and rose Bengal staining 6 week post operation.