Do the tests prior to cataract sugery include testing for Dry Eye Disease?

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My surgery is coming up and I've read how important it is to treat dry eye disease prior to cataract surgery. I am wondering if testing for dye eyes is included in the tests ran on patients before surgery. I read that dry eyes can interfere with getting the correct IOL measurements. My Surgeon did not review the different test that he ran and I didn't know to ask.

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  • Edited

    They should, but many don't unless a paitent complains about it. It is estimated almost 80% of cataract surgery patients have dry eye to some degree. You can google "dry eye and cataract surgery" and get a lot of links. As a preventive measure, I would start using artificial tears, preservative free, in a multi dose bottle. Systance Hydration PF is good,

  • Edited

    The surgeon that did my eyes did not require me to use eye drops before the measurements were taken. I was told to stop wearing soft contacts for at least a week before the measurements though. I know some surgeons require their patients to go through and elaborate and expensive eye drop routine before measurements and surgery. Mine did not, only after with a steroid and antibacterial drops.

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    Post surgery I do think I am starting to suffer from dry eye. I notice it later in the day, and find I often need to use some drops. When I was researching drops for dry eye I found this article that you may be interested in. However as far as using them, if you have already had your measurements done it is too late to use them to improve measurement accuracy, unless your surgeon is willing to do them over again.

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    Dr. Mike NG Comparing Preservative-Free Eye Drop Products in Canada & Looking Beyond

  • Edited

    I haven't read of any special tests done regarding dry eye syndrome being done prior to the pre-op and surgery -- it didn't come up in mine. I think that would be something you would pursue separately with your own optometrist. However, the clinic I chose to do the surgery told me to start using just plain preservative free lubricating drops a month prior to the pre-op (or as soon as possible), and continue up to the surgery itself. Then said I could continue post surgery if I felt I needed them. The surgery itself is known to cause dry eye syndrome on it's own, even if you didn't have a problem before -- sometimes just for a short time and sometimes permanently. I knew already that my eyes were a bit dry from decades of wearing gas permeable lenses, but I'd never used lubricating drops before -- now I wish that I had. I'm pretty sure though that by following the clinic's suggestion to use them resulted in much better quality pre-op scans and measurements, than if I hadn't done it. And thus resulted in better visual outcomes and fewer post surgical complications.

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    I tried a variety of brands... Refresh, HydraSense, Oasis, Theloz Duo (which is supposed to be a cheaper version of Hylo), and Thera Tears (which does have a mild preservative but isn't irritating my eyes so far). I felt that Refresh (and Thera Tears which is very similar) worked best for me. The others were "okay", but not as good overall in my opinion -- Oasis was the biggest let down considering the numerous reviews and hype I'd read about it (it's glycerin), and the trouble and cost it took to get it. But everyone is different and will give you a different "hit" list. Most of them aren't that expensive either.

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