title: Dry Eye Following Phacoemulsification Surgery and its Relation to Associated Intraoperative Risk Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to study dry eye following phacoemulsification surgery and analyze its relation to associated intra-operative risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was carried out on 100 eyes of 100 patients without preoperative dry eye. Schirmer's Test I, tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, and lissamine green staining of cornea and conjunctiva were performed preoperatively and at 5 days, 10 days, 1-month, and 2 months after phacoemulsification surgery, along with the assessment of subjective symptoms, using the dry eye questionnaire. The correlations between these values and the operating microscope light exposure time along with the cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant deterioration of all dry eye test values following phacoemulsification surgery along with an increase in subjective symptoms. These values started improving after 1-month postoperatively, but preoperative levels were not achieved till 2 months after surgery. Correlations of dry eye test values were noted with the operating microscope light exposure time and CDE, but they were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phacoemulsification surgery is capable of inducing dry eye, and patients should be informed accordingly prior to surgery. The clinician should also be cognizant that increased CDE can induce dry eyes even in eyes that were healthy preoperatively. In addition, intraoperative exposure to the microscopic light should be minimized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, UCMS and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, UCMS and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, UCMS and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, UCMS and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biakthangi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
keywords: Dry Eye; Intra-operative Risk Factor; Microscope Exposure Time