Changes of tear film and tear secretion after phacoemulsification in diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate tear film stability and tear secretion in patients with diabetes after phacoemulsification.


METHODS
Twenty-five diabetic cataract patients and 20 age-matched non-diabetic cataract patients as control underwent phacoemulsification. Tear film break-up time (TFBUT), Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining, and dry eye symptoms were measured pre- and postoperatively.


RESULTS
Diabetics had a decreased preoperative TFBUT and SIT. TFBUT was reduced on Day 1 and recovered on Day 180 postoperatively in both groups. SIT was increased after phacoemulsification, but returned to preoperative levels by Day 180 in non-diabetics, whereas it was lower than preoperative level in diabetics. Positive corneal fluorescein staining was elevated in both groups, and returned to preoperative levels only in controls. Dry eye symptoms were similar to fluorescein staining in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Tear secretion was reduced in diabetic cataract patients after phacoemulsification, which worsened dry eye symptoms and predisposed those patients to ocular damage.
Liu
Xi
X
Ophthalmology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. zylx2005@yahoo.com.cn
Gu
Yang-shun
YS
Xu
Ye-sheng
YS
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002386:Cataract / Q000628:therapy*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D013666:Tears; D013997:Time Factors
D019793:Fluorescein