Evaluation of Dryness of Eyes after Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery with Corneoscleral Tunnel Incision

摘要

Context: Damage to any component of the lacrimal function unit can destabilize the tear film and it can lead to ocular surface disease that expresses itself as dry eye. Many factors can cause dry eyes in patients after cataract surgeries, which increases their agony. In a developing country like ours, the most common, efficient and economical cataract surgery is the manual small incision cataract surgery which is done with a corneoscleral tunnel incision. The study population was from a region where agriculture was a predominant occupation. The environmental exposure to wind, sunlight and a high temperature causes dry eyes, which can be aggravated after cataract surgeries. Aims: To evaluate the presence or absence of dry eyes, if present and to assess the severity of the dry eyes after manual small incision cataract surgery with a corneoscleral tunnel incision. Settings and Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study. Material and Methods: 68 out of 71 patients who came for follow up after manual small incision cataract surgeries with corneoscleral tunnel incisions were examined and analyzed. The symptoms, marginal tear strip height, Schirmer?s test-1and the tear film break-up time were recorded. The observations were analyzed and the dryness of the eyes, when it was present, was graded according to the DEWS 2007 report. Statistical Analysis: Percentage.Results: 66.2% patients had dry eyes. Among them, 53.32% had mild grade, 26.6% had moderate grade and 20% had a severe grade of dryness. 33.8% patients did not have dry eyes. 67.7% of the male patients and 64.9% of the female patients had dry eyes. This gender difference was statistically not significant (p value?0.3922). 68.4% of the patients with a superior incision and 63.3% of the patients with a temporal incision had dry eyes. This difference in the incision site was also statistically not significant ( p value?0.9741). 60% of the patients in the early post-operative period and 75% of the patients in the late post-operative period had dry eyes. This difference was also statistically not significant (p value?0.1019).Conclusion: After manual small incision cataract surgeries with corneoscleral tunnel incisions, there was dryness of eyes in a majority of the patients and a majority of them had the mild grade of dry eyes.