title: Incidence and pattern of dry eye after cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence and severity pattern of dry eye after phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from ninety-two uncomplicated cataract patients who were 18 years old or older. Dry eye incidence and pattern were analyzed at days 0, 7, 30 and 90 after phacoemulsification using (1) Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, (2) tear break up time (TBUT), (3) Oxford ocular surface staining system, and (4) Schirmer I test without anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven days after phacoemulsification, the incidence of dry eye was 9.8% (95% confidence interval; 3.6-16.0%). The severity of dry eye peaked seven days post-phacoemulsification and was measured by OSDI questionnaire and all three clinical tests. Within thirty days and 3 months post-surgery, both the symptoms and signs showed rapid and gradual improvements, respectively. However, dry eye post-phacoemulsification was not significantly associated with sex and systemic hypertension (P = 0.26, 0.17 and 0.73, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of dry eye after phacoemulsification was 9.8%. Symptoms and signs of dry eye occurred as early as seven days post-phacoemulsification and the severity pattern improved over time. We recommend that ophthalmologists should evaluate patients both before and after phacoemulsification to prevent further damage to the ocular surface and able to manage the patient promptly and effectively so the patient will not have a poor quality of life and vision due to dry eye syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ngamjit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kasetsuwan
authors.forename: Vannarut
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Satitpitakul
authors.forename: Theerapa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Changul
authors.forename: Supharat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jariyakosol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology