EFFICACY OF A NOVEL LASER TREATMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DRY EYE DISEASE AFTER CATARACT SURGERY

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel laser treatment for the management of dry eye disease (DED) following cataract surgery.

First Department of Ophthalmology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,Greece

A total of 48 eyes from 24 patients who were refractory to conventional treatment for DED after bilateral cataract surgery with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) were included in our study. Eyelid-margin abnormal vessels of the clinically worse eye were destructed with 532 nm subthreshold laser system via selective thermolysis, whereas the contralateral eye was observed as control. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear-breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I, tear meniscus depth and height, eyelid-margin and MG features, and corneal staining were evaluated at 1 day before and 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after treatment.

The OSDI, TBUT, Schirmer I, tear meniscus depth and height, eyelid-margin vascularity, MG expressivity, and corneal staining of the treated eyes were significantly improved at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after treatment compared to baseline values (p<0,05), while morphological MG features remained stable. The above-mentioned parameters in the control eyes did not change significantly (p>0,05) compared to the baseline values. No local or systemic side effects were observed at follow-up visits.

This study is the first to investigate a laser therapy for post-cataract surgery DED. It demonstrates its effectiveness and safety in managing DED after cataract surgery, improving MG function and stabilizing the ocular surface.