If you are about to undergo eye surgeries such as cataract or corneal refractive surgery, research suggests that you should actively manage 'dry eye syndrome.' Dry eyes can reduce the predictive accuracy of corneal curvature measurements, leading to poorer postoperative outcomes. Artificial tears can be used frequently to improve dry eye symptoms.

 

Professor Kim Dong-hyun's team at Korea University Anam Hospital conducted a study to determine whether dry eye syndrome causes changes in corneal curvature measurements. Corneal curvature is a very important measurement used to predict outcomes in cataract surgery or corneal refractive surgery. The greater the variability in the measurement, the lower the accuracy of the surgery, which can negatively affect visual prognosis after the procedure.

The research team measured and analyzed corneal curvature values twice using the advanced ocular measurement device 'IOLMaster 700,' which is mainly used in clinical settings, on 60 patients scheduled for cataract surgery from March to November 2023.

 

As a result, the higher the variability in corneal curvature, the more severe the dry eye syndrome. The group with corneal curvature errors exceeding 0.25D, indicating higher variability, had shorter tear film breakup times and higher corneal staining scores compared to the group with variability below 0.25D. Shorter tear film breakup times indicate lower tear film stability, and higher corneal staining scores suggest greater corneal damage, both signs of more severe dry eye syndrome. The group with corneal curvature errors of 0.25D or more had an average tear film breakup time of 3.1 seconds and an average corneal staining score of 1.1, while the group with errors below 0.25D had averages of 4.0 seconds and 0.6 points, respectively.

 

Professor Kim Dong-hyun stated, "The more severe the dry eye syndrome, the greater the potential for refractive prediction errors after eye surgery, so it is essential for patients scheduled for eye surgery to manage dry eye syndrome before the procedure." He also said, "In future research, we plan to explore optimal strategies to effectively manage dry eye syndrome before cataract or refractive surgery."

 

Methods known to help alleviate dry eye syndrome include regularly applying artificial tears, performing warm compresses on the eyes, cleaning the eyelids, and looking into the distance every 20 minutes when using digital devices.

 

Meanwhile, the results of this study were recently published in the internationally renowned scientific journal 'Scientific Reports'.

 

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Preparing for cataract surgery

It seems that you also need to pay close attention to dry eye syndrome.

 

I also have dry eye syndrome.

Use artificial tears daily

I will definitely make sure to refer to helpful methods.