High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid/Trehalose/Sacha Inchi Oil Drops In Post-Cataract Dry Eye Symptoms

Prospective, randomised, comparative study to evaluate efficacy of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil eye drops for post-operative discomfort and tear film stability in patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal

Patients with a healthy ocular surface, as well as those with subclinical or mild dry eye, were included in the study. Prior to cataract surgery and at four weeks post-operation, assessments were conducted for dry eye symptoms using ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire validated to Portuguese language.

Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil eye drops five times daily in addition to the standard post-operative drops of levofloxacin, dexamethasone, and flurbiprofen, while Group B received only the standard post-operative drops for four weeks.

52 patients were enrolled in the study, with 25 patients allocated to Group A (73.2 ± 8.9 years) and 27 to Group B (75.4 ± 6.8 years). There were no differences between groups in terms of age, BCVA both pre and post-operatively and mean pre-operative OSDI scores.

Significant improvement in dry eye symptoms, assessed by the OSDI questionnaire, was observed in both groups following cataract surgery (35.8 to 21.5, p<0,05). However, the reduction in symptoms was more pronounced in the group treated with hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil drops. This difference was statistically significant at the four-week mark, with mean OSDI scores demonstrating a significant difference between groups (16.6 in Group A and 26.0 in Group B, p<0,05).

The combination of hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil drops proved highly effective in relieving symptoms of dry eye following cataract surgery. While both groups experienced reduction in OSDI scores post operatively, certainly given the overall visual acuity gain after cataract removal, it's noteworthy that the group receiving hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil drops exhibited a more significant enhancement.

Cataract surgery is an effective procedure to improve visual acuity. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients experience dry eye symptoms post-surgery, impacting quality of life. Thus, it is imperative to address these symptoms effectively to enhance clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction post-surgery.