Short-Term Influence of Aspirating Speculum Use on Dry Eye After Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term influence of the use of an aspirating speculum on dry eye after performing cataract surgery. METHODS: This study was conducted using a prospective, consecutive, comparative, interventional case series of 58 eyes of 58 patients who underwent clear corneal cataract surgery; 29 eyes were treated using an aspirating speculum, and 29 eyes were treated without using a nonaspirating speculum. The main outcome measures were sequential changes of dry eye parameters including conjunctival staining, tear film break-up time (tBUT), conjunctivochalasis grades, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI). RESULTS: In the nonaspirating speculum group, tBUT and conjunctivochalasis grades were aggravated on day 1 postoperatively (P < 0.001), but conjunctival staining and OSDI did not show any significant change during the follow-up. In the aspirating speculum group, significant aggravation was observed by conjunctival staining on day 1 postoperatively (P = 0.001), tBUT and conjunctivochalasis grades were evaluated on day 1 and day 7 postoperatively (P < 0.001), and the OSDI was evaluated on day 7 postoperatively (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The use of an aspirating speculum aggravated dry eye parameters during the early postoperative period. Although these parameters returned to their preoperative values at 1 month postoperatively, the use of an aspirating speculum has the potential to aggravate dry eyes after cataract surgery is performed.