The Significance of Dry Eye Signs on Preoperative Keratometry Measurements in Patients Scheduled for Cataract Surgery

• Published in: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) Vol. 18; pp. 151 - 161
• Main Authors: Nilsen, Christian, Gundersen, Morten, Graae Jensen, Per, Gundersen, Kjell Gunnar, Potvin, Richard, Utheim, Øygunn A, Gjerdrum, Bjørn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2024; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Cataract; cataract surgery; Clinical Trial Report; Comparative analysis; non-invasive keratography tear break-up time; ocular surface staining; osmolarity; sign of dry eye; Surgery; Norway; sign of dry eye; non-invasive keratography tear break-up time; cataract surgery; ocular surface staining; osmolarity
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483; 1177-5483
• DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S448168

The primary objective was to investigate if subjects with dry eyes had increased variability of keratometry measurements prior to cataract surgery compared to subjects with non-dry eyes. Secondary objectives were to determine which separate signs affected keratometry. This study was part of a prospective interventional randomized controlled trial. After dry eye diagnostics were performed (signs only) subjects were divided into sign of dry eye (SDE) positive and negative groups. To investigate variability, we performed two keratometry measurements for each subject with three different optical biometers: Anterion (OCT optical biometer), Eyestar (combined OCT and reflection-based optical biometer), and Lenstar (reflection based-optical biometer). One hundred and thirty-one subjects were available for analysis. The variability of astigmatism was significantly higher for subjects with hyperosmolarity compared to normal eyes for the Lenstar, as was the percentage of eyes with variability of astigmatism greater than 0.25 D. The percentage of eyes with variability of average K greater than 0.25 D was higher for subjects with non-invasive keratograph break-up time <10 seconds (NIKBUT positive) compared to normal eyes for the Lenstar. Combined diagnostic criteria (signs only) showed no statistically significant differences for keratometry measurements between SDE positive and negative. Eyes with hyperosmolarity and NIKBUT positive showed statistically higher variability of keratometry measurements compared to normal eyes for Lenstar, but not for the Anterion or Eyestar biometers.