Dr.Hemanth Ramachandar

Dr.Geeta Behera, Prof.K Ramesh Babu

Abstract

Cataract surgery has been shown to cause/exacerbate DED. We evaluated DED after MSICS and phacoemulsification using clinical and inflammatory markers in tear film which helps formulating new strategies to combat iatrogenic DED. We recruited 86 (43: MSICS, 43: phacoemulsification) cataract patients >40 yrs. Clinical parameters (OSDI scores, TBUT, NEI score, Schirmer’s I, MGD) and inflammatory markers in Tears (IL-1β and IL-6) were assessed pre-operatively, POD-1, 21 and 60. All clinical parameters showed significant worsening POD-1 with gradual improvement on POD-21 and -60 in both groups. Only TBUT in the phacoemulsification group and NEI in both groups returned to pre-op levels. IL-1beta and IL-6 levels significantly increased on POD-1 with gradual return to near pre-op levels in both groups by POD-60. IL-1beta levels remained significantly elevated in both groups at POD-60. So, clinical DED is worse in MSICS. Thus, phacoemulsification has a better outcome in pre-existing DED patients