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Updated: May 2, 2026
Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Published on: April 1, 2019
Evaluation of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction after cataract surgery
Kyung Eun Han1, Sang Chul Yoon2, Ji Min Ahn3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Purpose:
To evaluate dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction after cataract surgery.
Design:
Prospective observational case series.
Methods:
We studied 58 eyes of 48 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and evaluated them preoperatively and at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular symptom scores, lid margin abnormalities, superficial punctate keratopathies (SPKs), tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, lower tear meniscus height, depth, and area using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography, meibum expressibility and images of the meibomian glands using meibography were measured.
Results:
The ocular symptom scores were worse at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Lid margin abnormalities were significantly increased (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and TBUT decreased postoperatively (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Meibum expressibility decreased at 3 months postoperatively (P = 0.016); however, meibography score, SPK, lower tear meniscus height, depth and area and the Schirmer test did not change significantly postoperatively (all P values >0.05).
Conclusion:
Meibomian gland function may be altered without accompanying structural changes after cataract surgery.
