The effect of sodium hyaluronate on tear film stability in patients with dry eye syndrome after cataract surgery

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to observe the changes in the ocular surface after phacoemulsification in patients with age-related cataracts with respect to the addition of varying concentrations of hyaluronate.

Methods: Patients with dry eye syndrome were treated with 0.3% and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops to evaluate the clinical improvement in each treatment group. A total of 73 patients (91 eyes) with age-related cataracts suffering from dry eye syndrome after phacoemulsification were divided into treatment group A (30 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy and treatment with 0.3% sodium hyaluronate; treatment group B (31 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy and treatment with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate; and the control group (group C; 30 eyes), undergoing conventional therapy only. Two groups were given different concentrations of sodium hyaluronate eye drops four times a day (should be completed between 8 AM and 8 PM), one drop at a time.

Results: Seven days, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively, there were significant differences in the Schirmer I test (SIt), first noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUTf), average noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUTav), tear meniscus height (TMH), and irregularity (when the refractive force of different parts of different meridians on the same meridian is different. The main manifestation is that the two meridians on the anterior surface of the cornea do not show a 90-degree vertical distribution, which cannot be corrected by conventional astigmatism lenses) between the three groups (p < 0.05). When compared with group C, there were significant differences in the SIt, NIBUTf, NIBUTav, TMH, and irregularity of group A and group B (p < 0.05). When compared with group B, there were significant improvements in the SIt, NIBUTf, NIBUTav, and TMH in group A (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In the early stage after phacoemulsification, the stability of the tear film is reduced. Adding sodium hyaluronate eye drops can restore tear film structure and improve corneal surface regularity, and a 0.3% solution of sodium hyaluronate eye drops is more effective than a 0.1% solution.

Keywords: Cataract; Corneal surface regularity; Dry eye syndrome; Phacoemulsification; Sodium hyaluronate; Tear film.