Dr. Rahul Maheshwari, Dr. Parmar Gautam Singh, Dr. Ashok Kumar Meena,Dr. Sachin Arya
AIM: To evaluate meibomian gland function after cataract surgery
DESIGN: Prospective case control series
METHODS: 200 patients underwent phacoemulsification in one eye and fellow eye was taken as control and evaluated them preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular symptom scores, lid margin abnormalities, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test and meibomian gland expression were assessed.
RESULTS: The ocular symptom scores were worse at 1 and 3 months postoperatively (P<0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively) in subjects than control. Lid margin abnormalities were significantly increased and TBUT decreased postoperatively (P < 0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). Meibum expression decreased at 3 months postoperatively (P =0.015); however, schirmer test did not change significantly (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Patients without pre-existing MGD tend to develop it after routine cataract surgery explaining symptoms of ocular discomfort in immediate postoperative period.