FairfieldCounty Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. shared insight into dry eye
problems after cataract surgery. “As a corneal specialist I tend to listen
carefully and take meticulous care to educate my cataract patients about dry
eye after cataract surgery. Patients of cataract age and especially those having
cataract surgery should know a little bit about dry eye as this is a somewhat
common but temporary condition they may experience,” said Dr. Leslie Doctor.
According to the Prospective
Health Assessment of Cataract Patients Ocular Surface (PHACO) Study some 60-75% of a cataract aged population had a
meaningful deficiency in their tear film testing before cataract surgery!
Further, although cataract surgery is quite friendly to the cornea, it does
require an incision can temporarily interrupt corneal nerves responsible for
reflex tearing and tear film integrity. This along with some of the solutions
used during the cataract surgery procedure can result in a dry eye. The
symptoms one might experience could include fluctuations of vision, dryness,
grittiness, tearing, burning and a general tiredness as well as an overall
sandy feeling. The good news is that for
the vast majority of patients with dry eye there are potentially helpful
treatment options that include specialized artificial tear lubricants and
solutions, tiny punctal plugs to help
you retain tears and prescription medication that stimulates production of your
own tears. In addition there are more technological approaches such as
lasers and other methods to treating underlying blepharitis, eyelid gland
problems or eyelid inflammation that can contribute to dry eye as well.
If you or someone you know has
questions or concerns about cataract surgery and dry eyes please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in
Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an
appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a
leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North,
Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and
148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.
