Comparative Study of Incidence of Dry Eye after Phaco-emulsification Versus SICS (Code-T0201)

Introduction: Dry eye is a common post-operative complication after cataract surgery, affecting patient comfort and vision quality. Phacoemulsification (Phaco) and Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) are two widely performed cataract extraction techniques. However, their impact on the incidence of dry eye symptoms remains uncertain. This study aims to compare the incidence of dry eye following Phacoemulsification and SICS.

Aims and Objectives:

Aim : To compare the incidence of dry eye in phacoemulsification surgery and small incision cataract surgery.

Objective: To identify the procedure with a greater risk of dry eyes

Methods: A total of 100 patients undergoing cataract surgery were included in the study, divided into two groups: 50 patients for Phacoemulsification and 50 patients for SICS. Dry eye was evaluated pre-operatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Schirmer's test. The data were statistically analyzed to determine the significance of differences in dry eye incidence between the two groups.

Results: The study found a higher incidence of dry eye in the Phacoemulsification group compared to the SICS group. The severity of dry eye symptoms was significantly greater in the Phaco group at all post-operative intervals.

Conclusion: Phacoemulsification appears to have a higher incidence of post-operative dry eye compared to SICS. This study highlights the importance of considering dry eye as a factor when choosing the appropriate cataract surgery technique.

Keywords: Dry Eye, Phacoemulsification, SICS, Cataract Surgery, Ocular Surface Disease Index, Schirmer's Test