Role of Postoperative Lubrication in Cataract Surgery

Cataract and dry eye are two conditions occurring frequently in the elderly. Several reports suggested a deterioration of dry eye after cataract surgery, causing a significant impact on patients' postoperative satisfaction as well as quality of life. Recently, a novel index, assessing the risk of developing dry eye after cataract surgery in a non-dry eye population, was published; the so called - Ocular Surface Frailty Index (OSFI). This score utilizes 10 items including clinical ocular findings, medical history as well as environmental factors and grade the respective subject in low-risk- or high-risk group. Using the cutoff of 0.3, the rate of postoperative dry eye was 9,6% in the low-risk group and 50% in the high-risk group (p<0.001).

Systane Hydration MDPF eye drops (Alcon Research, Ltd., Fort, Worth, Texas, USA, a division of Novartis) is an artificial tear substitute based on the dual-polymer formula containing HP-Guar and hyaluronic acid. Previous studies found an increase in tear film stability and reduction of subjective complaints. In an animal model corneas treated with Systane Hydration showed the fastest re-epithelialization compared to other HA products supporting the beneficial role of HA-containing artificial tears in corneal wound healing.

The current study seeks to investigate if intensive lubrication, using Systane Hydration MDPF, in the postoperative phase of cataract surgery can reduce the rate of dry eye in the high-risk group. The findings will have a great impact how to identify these patients, to administer the adequate therapy, which might hinder development of dry eye related to cataract surgery.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Systane Hydration MDPF eye drops (Alcon Research, Ltd., Fort, Worth, Texas, USA, a division of Novartis) works to treat prevent postoperative dry eye in adults undergoing cataract surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• to investigate if intensive lubrication, using Systane Hydration MDPF, in the postoperative phase of cataract surgery can reduce the rate of dry eye in a high-risk group. The findings will have a great impact how to identify these patients, to administer the adequate therapy, which might hinder development of dry eye related to cataract surgery.

Participants will:

Take Systane Hydration MDPF eye drops 4x daily for 3 months additional to or just the standard of care medication (NSAID topical 2x daily for 4 weeks) after surgery Visit the clinic after 7 days, 1 month and 3 months after cataract surgery