Changes of tear film and corneal sensitivity after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract extraction surgery

Objective

To compare the changes of tear film and corneal sensitivity between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and microincisional phacoemulsification surgery.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed.Fifty-three eyes of 53 patients with age-related cataract were included in Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital from March to July 2015.The patients were divided into femtosecond laser group and microincisional group.The 26 eyes in the femtosecond laser group received femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, and 27 eyes in the microincisional group received 2.2 mm microincisional phacoemulsification surgery.The patients were followed-up for 3 months.The data of corneal sensitivity, Schirmer test values, non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT) and subjective score for dryness were collected in 7 days, 1 month and 3 months after surgery, and these results were compared between the two groups.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Wuhan Aier Ophthalmology Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to surgery.

Results

The operations were finished smoothly in all the eyes.In preoperative and 7 days, 1 month, 3 months after operation, the upper corneal sensitivity threshold and NIBUT between the two groups appeared a first reduction and a subsequent rise, the same phenomenon occurred in Schirmer test of the microincisional group and the subjective scores for dryness of the femtosecond laser group with statistically significant differences in the overall comparison (all at P<0.05). No significant differences were seen in the central corneal sensitivity of the two groups and Schirmer test in the femtosecond laser group (all at P>0.05). The dry eye scores increased gradually with the time expand after operation in the microincisional group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In postoperative 3 months, these parameters were restored preoperative values.However, the dry eye scores in the microincisional group were still higher than that before operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Compared with the 2.2 mm microincisional phacoemulsification surgery, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery brings less disturbance to lacrimal secretion, slight symptoms of dry eye and more comfortable sensation.