Cataract surgery — regardless of technique — comes with an ocular surface price tag. A new study found that both phacoemulsification and manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) trigger dry eye symptoms and elevated inflammation markers post-op. While most patients improved by day 60, neither group fully returned to baseline, highlighting the need for proactive post-surgical dry eye management.
Cataract surgery — regardless of technique — comes with an ocular surface price tag. A prospective study of 86 patients published in Scientific Reports found that both phacoemulsification and manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) cause significant dry eye symptoms and inflammatory changes after surgery, even in patients with no pre-existing dry eye disease.
Both groups showed worsening tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I scores, and ocular staining scores on day one post-op, with gradual improvement through day 60. However, neither group fully recovered to baseline by that point.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide, and post-op dry eye is a frequent but underappreciated complication. These findings suggest that proactive ocular surface management should be a standard part of post-surgical care, regardless of which surgical technique is used.
