Changes of tear film and the occurrence of dry eye syndrome following phacoemulsification in the patients with diabetes

Objective To evaluate tear film changes following phacoemulsication in the patients with diabetes.Methods This randomized study involved 112 cases(130 eyes) with diabetic cataract and 50 cases(50 eyes) with cataract who underwent phacoemulsification.Tear break-up time(BUT),SchinmerⅡtest(SIt) value and corneal fluorescein staining(FL) were measured preoperatively and 1,7,30 and 90 days postoperatively.Results At 1,3 and 7 days postoperatively,the subjects complain of dry eye,and the mean SIt(t=-14.726,-17.213,-7.256) and FL scores increased significantly,and the mean BUT (t = 25.366,22.125,17.148) decreased significantly(all P0.01 versus normal group).The BUT and SIt recovered at 90 days postoperatively.Conclusions Phacoemulsification reduces the stability of tear film of diabetic patients.Preventions with artificial tears should be taken.