Short-Term Effect Of Cataract Surgery On Ocular Surface Parameters And Meibomian Gland Morphology: A Cross-Sectional Study
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR427 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/shgv-kg89
Authors: Dr Reyhan Atasoy* 1 , Dr Serdar Bilici 1 , Dr Numan Kucuk 1 , A/Prof. Suat Hayri Ugurbas 1
1Ophthalmology,Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Hospital,Zonguldak,Türkiye
Purpose
To evaluate the short-term alterations in meibomian gland (MG) morphology, secretory function, and tear film stability one month after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery compared to contralateral phakic eyes.
Setting
This cross-sectional study was conducted at a single-center tertiary care.The study clinical assessments and advanced topographic meibography measurements were performed in a controlled ophthalmology outpatient setting.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 60 patients (120 eyes) with one pseudophakic eye (at post-operative 1st month) and one contralateral phakic eye. Symptom severity was evaluated via the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. MG loss (%) ,meiboscore and non -invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) were measured using the Sirius (CSO) Scheimpflug-Placido topography system. Clinical assessments included meibomian gland expression (MGE) scoring, and corneal fluorescein staining according to the Oxford scale.
Results
The study included 60 patients (27Males/ 33Females, mean age 69.4±7.2 years) with a mean OSDI of 20.3±8.5.One month after phacoemulsification,mean NIBUT in pseudophakic eyes was significantly lower than in phakic eyes (8.18±4.12 vs.10.7 ±3.91; p<0.001).Morphological analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of MG loss % in pseudophakic eyes compared to the control group (27.4 % ± 15.8% vs. 24.5% ± 15.0 % ; p<0.001).Furthermore, functional assessment showed significantly higher MGE scores in the pseudophakic group (1.54 ± 0.72 vs. 1.29 ± 0.55 ; p=0.005). However, no significant difference was observed in Oxford corneal staining grades between pseudophakic and phakic eyes (0.3 vs. 0.2, p = 0.341).
Conclusions
At one month postoperatively, significant impairments occur not only in meibomian gland secretory function and tear film stability but also in the anatomical MG loss rate as detected by meibography. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to monitor ocular surface health and meibomian gland status in patients undergoing cataract surgery, considering these factors in their clinical evaluations for dry eye.