Role Of Postoperative Lubrication In Preventing Dry Eye After Cataract Surgery

Several studies report a deterioration of dry eye signs and symptoms after cataract surgery, causing a significant impact on patients’ postoperative satisfaction as well as quality of life. Recently, a novel index, assessing the risk of developing dry eye after cataract surgery in a non-dry eye population, was published; the so called – Ocular Surface Frailty Index (OSFI).

The current study seeks to investigate if intensive lubrication, using Systane Hydration MDPF eye drops (Alcon Research, Ltd., Fort, Worth, Texas, USA, a division of Novartis), in the postoperative phase of cataract surgery can reduce the rate of dry eye in the high-risk group, as assessed via OSFI.

117 patients will be enrolled into the study and assigned to one out of three groups. Patients with an OSFI score equal or higher than 0.3 (high risk) will be randomized into group 1 or 2. Group 1 receives standard of care and group 2 additionally receives intensive lubrication. Patients with OSFI score below 0.3 (low risk) are included in group 3 and serve as a reference group. Investigators perform comprehensive assessment of the ocular surface and dry eye parameters, including questionnaires for subjective complaints, corneal and conjunctival staining scores, break up time and meibomian gland scores prior and 7, 30 and 90 days after cataract surgery. 

At the time of abstract submission, we have enrolled 16 patients in this study and recruitment of patients is ongoing. The data will be presented at the ESCRS conference.

The current study seeks to investigate if intensive lubrication, using Systane Hydration MDPF, in the postoperative phase of cataract surgery can reduce the rate of dry eye in the high-risk group. The results could have a major impact on how these patients are identified and whether appropriate therapy can prevent the development of dry eye associated with cataract surgery.