The Change of Corneal Sensation and Tear Film Stability after Cataract Surgery in Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change of corneal sensitivity and tear film stability before and after cataract surgery using a temporal clear corneal incision in diabetic patients. METHODS: This study included 16 eyes of 16 patients in the diabetic group and 20 eyes of 20 patients in the control group. All patients had phacoemulsification with 3 mm temporal clear corneal incision. All patients were examined for the corneal sensitivity, Schirmer test, tear break-up time, fluorescein staining for ocular surface, and ocular irritation symptom. All values were compared before and after surgery (1, 7, 30, 60, and 90 days). RESULTS: Before surgery, the Schirmer test and tear break-up time were lower in the diabetic group than the normal group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The values of the Schirmer test tended to temporarily increase after surgery and then decrease. The tear break-up time decreased more in the diabetic group than the normal group until postoperative day 7 (P<0.05). The fluorescein staining scores and ocular irritation symptoms were increased in both groups at postoperative day 1 (P<0.05). The temporal corneal sensitivity decreased more in the both groups until postoperative day 7. The central corneal sensitivity decreased more in the diabetic group until postoperative day 7, more in the non diabetic group until postoperative day 1 (P<0.05). Corneal sensitivity decreased more in the diabetic group than the normal group at postoperative day 1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Clear corneal incision affected corneal sensitivity and tear film stability in the diabetic group more than the normal group after cataract surgery. The diabetic group experienced temporarily altered corneal sensitivity and tear film stability.