Birmingham Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. & Tyler Hall, M.D. wish to share
information about dry eye for those contemplating cataract surgery. How are dry
eye and cataract surgery related? Dry eye can be a temporary condition that
cataract patients experience. As a cataract eye surgery patient, however, one
should not be worried as developing a dry eye after cataract surgery is actually somewhat
common.
A Prospective
Health Assessment of Cataract Patients Ocular Surface (PHACO) studied the tear film in a cataract aged
population group and found that 60-75% had a meaningful deficiency in their
tear film testing BEFORE cataract surgery. What are the elements of cataract
surgery that might exacerbate dry eye? First, although cataract surgery occurs
inside the eye and therefore does not disrupt the cornea to a great degree, the
surgery still does require an incision to be made into the cornea in order to
reach the interior of the eye. This incision has the possibility of disturbing
corneal nerves that signal reflex tearing and tear film production.
Additionally, some of the solutions used during the cataract procedure can
indeed result in a dry eye.
What are the specific symptoms of dry eye?
Symptoms vary by individual, yet reported complaints range from a gritty or
sandy feeling on the surface of the eye, excess tearing, drying and burning
sensations which overall can combine to impact a patient’s quality of vision.
Thankfully, treatment options exist to combat these symptoms, which depending
upon the severity of dry eye experienced, begin with specialized artificial
tear lubricants and solutions, tiny punctal plugs to help you retain tears and
prescription medication that stimulates production of your own tears. If these
initial steps are not successful in providing relief, there are more
technological approaches, such as lasers and other methods to treating
underlying blepharitis, eyelid gland problems or eyelid inflammation that can
contribute to dry eye as well.
If you or someone you know is
experiencing dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery, please schedule an appointment
at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930,
visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.
Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract
Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands,
1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205
