Abstract

Cataract surgery has been shown to cause/exacerbate DED. We evaluated DED after cataract surgery (phacoemulsification and SICS) using clinical and inflammatory markers in tear film. We recruited 86 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, Clinically MSICS had worse DED compared to phacoemulsification which also corresponded with the interleukin levels indicating clinical parameters are non-inferior to inflammatory markers