A Comparison Between The Ocular Surface Of Different Concentrations Of Benzalkonium Chloride Preservative In Postoperative Topical Medications After Cataract Surgery
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR421 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/kq0x-5j95
Authors: Dr Amnah Amin 1 , Fayrouz Aboalazaym* 1 , Mohamed Hosny 1 , Yehia Salah 1
1Ophthalmology,Cairo University,Cairo,Egypt
Purpose
To compare the effect of different concentrations of Benzalkonium Chloride in topical medications used post cataract surgery on the ocular surface
Setting
Prospective Randomized clinical trial
60 eyes of 60 cataract patients who have a healthy ocular surface presenting to Kasr Al Ainy Hospital (Cairo University).
Methods
60 eyes of 60 cataract patients who have a healthy ocular surface preoperatively. After phacoemulsification, patients were randomized into three groups. 20 eyes received regular Tobradex 0.1mg/ml BAK, 20 eyes received Dexathalm multidose 0.05mg/ml BAK and 20 eyes received single-dose unit Dexathalm without BAK. All medications were given five times per day. Non-invasive tear break-up time (TBUT), tear meniscus height, meibomian gland loss, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were assessed preoperatively and 4 weeks after surgery.
Results
The dexathalm single dose group showed better ocular surface parameters compared to the dexathalm multidose and the tobradex groups. It had the longest NIBUT (15.39 ±4.04 vs 14.80±4.23 vs 12.68±5.60 P=0.166), the highest tear meniscus height (0.24±0.05 vs 0.22±0.04 vs 0.18± 0.04, P=0.001), and showed no loss in the MG
Conclusions
The incidence of dry eye post cataract surgery is influenced by the concentration of BAK preservatives in the medications.