Incidence and Pattern of Dry Eye after Phacoemulsification and Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery

BACKGROUND: After cataract surgery many patients complain of foreign body sensation, redness, irritation, blurring of vision which are considered as unwanted effects of the surgery. AIM: To evaluate incidence and severity pattern of dry eye after phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery. METHODS: The study consisted of two group of patients Group 1 underwent phacoemulsification and Group 2 underwent manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS). The dry eye related data was collected preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire, Tear Break -Up Time (TBUT) and Schirmer Test 1 were used to record the type of dry eye. RESULTS: One hundred eyes of 100 patients, including 38 men and 62 women with the mean age of 60 (+12) years were studied. Dry eyes were found in 42 % eyes (p