Analysis of incidence and risk factors of dry eye syndrome in elderly cataract patients after phacoemulsification

To explore the risk factors of dry eye syndrome in elderly cataract patients after phacoemulsification.

A total of 186 elderly cataract patients admitted to Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 2020 to December 2023 were selected. They were divided into a dry eye group and a non-developing group according to whether dry eye syndrome occurred after phacoemulsification. The two groups were compared in the tear meniscus height, tear film breakup time (BUT), Schirmer test value (ST-1), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score. Univariate analysis was performed on the occurrence of dry eye syndrome, and multivariate logistic analysis its risk factors in cataract patients after phacoemulsification. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Data comparison between two groups was performed using t-test, or χ² test depending on data type.

Dry eye syndrome occurred in 80 of 186 elderly cataract patients after phacoemulsification, with an incidence of 43.01%. The lacrimal river height, BUT, and ST-1 in the dry eye group was lower than those in the non-occurrence group, and the OSDI score was higher than that in the non-occurrence group, with statistical significant differences (P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between the dry eye group and the non-cataract group in age, comorbid diabetes mellitus, conjunctivochalasis grading, eyelid meibum viscosity, and perioperative drug use (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in gender, cataract course, comorbid hypertension, preoperative visual acuity, vitreous hemorrhage, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Logistic regression analysis showed age ≥ 70 years, comorbid diabetes mellitus, conjunctivochalasis grading ≥ 2, meibum viscosity ≥ 3, and perioperative drug use ≥ 3 types were all independent risk factors for postoperative dry eye syndrome in elderly cataract patients (P<0.05).

The incidence of dry eye syndrome after phacoemulsification in elderly cataract patients is high, and its risk factors are mainly related to factors such as age, comorbid diabetes mellitus, conjunctivochalasis grading, meibum viscosity, and perioperative drug use. Clinically, sufficient attention should be paid to these factors, and corresponding measures should be taken to reduce the incidence of incidence of dry eye syndrome in elderly cataract patients after phacoemulsification.