Cataract surgery in patients with dry eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential causes of postoperative complications and the visual outcome after surgery for age-related cataract in dry eyes. SETTING: Tertiary-care multidisciplinary referral medical institution. METHODS: The records of 15 patients (21 eyes) with age-related cataract, a Schirmer value of 5.0 mm or less in 5 minutes, and a tear-film breakup time of 5 seconds or less having complications after cataract surgery were reviewed. Patients were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: dry eye with probable secondary Sjögren's syndrome (Group 1); dry eye without connective tissue disorders (Group 2). The surgical procedure, preoperative and postoperative medications, postoperative complications, and final visual outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten eyes (8 patients) in Group 1 and 11 (7 patients) in Group 2 had cataract surgery. In Group 1, postoperative endophthalmitis developed in 3 eyes and peripheral keratolysis in 4; 5 eyes attained a visual acuity between 6/60 and 6/18 2 years after surgery. In Group 2, filamentary keratitis developed in 6 eyes and peripheral keratolysis in 2 eyes; 6 eyes achieved a visual acuity of 6/12 or better 2 year after surgery. A significant decrease in visual acuity occurred between 3 months and 2 years postoperatively in both Group 1 (P = .010) and Group 2 (P = .0005). CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery in dry eyes had fewer complications and better visual outcome in patients who did not have connective tissue disease than in those who did.