Developing a dry eye
after cataract surgery is actually pretty common. Moreover, the incidence of mild to
moderate dry eye in a cataract aged population prior to cataract surgery-and
exacerbated by cataract surgery makes dry eye a rather common complaint among
this group. Patients of cataract age and
having cataract surgery should know a little bit about dry eye as this is a somewhat
temporary condition they may encounter. Fortunately, dry eye after cataract
surgery are a number of helpful solutions.
Dry
Eye Incidence
According to the Prospective
Health Assessment of Cataract Patients Ocular Surface (PHACO) Study some 60-75% of a cataract aged population has a
meaningful deficiency in their tear film testing. Further, although cataract
surgery is quite friendly to the cornea, it does require an incision which has
the potential to temporarily interrupt corneal nerves responsible for reflex
tearing and tear film integrity as well. This along with some of the solutions
used during the cataract procedure can indeed result in a dry eye.
Dry
Eye Symptoms
The symptoms one might experience could include
fluctuations of vision, dryness, grittiness, tearing, burning and a general
tiredness as well as an overall sandy feeling. The good news is that for the
vast majority of patients with dry eye there are potentially helpful treatment
options that include specialized artificial tear lubricants and solutions, tiny
punctal plugs to help you retain tears and prescription medication that
stimulates production of your own tears. In addition 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 concerned about dry eye after cataract surgery or
wishes to learn more about cataracts, cataract surgery and lens implants, they
are encouraged to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling
us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio
Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an
appropriate treatment plan.
D'Ambrosio
Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations
at 479 Old Union Turnpike,
Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts
01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner,
Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and
central Massachusetts area.
