Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes in 71 Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery at a Single Center with and Without Preoperative Keratostill Moisturizing Eye Drops.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common condition that can significantly impact cataract surgery outcomes. Preoperative management strategies, including the use of moisturizing eye drops, may improve ocular surface health and postoperative recovery. This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes in 71 patients undergoing cataract surgery between June 2022 and May 2023 at a single center with and without preoperative keratostill moisturizing eye drops (sterile aqueous 0.3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution) determined using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at diagnosis, on the day of surgery, and at two weeks postoperatively. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 71 patients undergoing cataract surgery at Saint Barbara Hospital Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland, from June 2022 to May 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to a test group (moisturizing eye drops) or a control group (no preoperative eye drops). The OSDI, TBUT, and OCT were evaluated at the baseline, preoperatively, and postoperatively. Results: The test group showed a significant improvement in OSDI scores (preoperative: 6.34 vs. baseline: 11.81; p < 0.001), which further decreased postoperatively (3.30; p < 0.001). TBUT also significantly increased from baseline to the preoperative visit (6.20 s to 7.97 s; p = 0.002) and remained stable after surgery (7.78 s). In contrast, the control group demonstrated only a minimal postoperative change in OSDI (3.92 to 3.70; p > 0.05) and a significant postoperative decrease in TBUT (5.96 s to 5.69 s; p = 0.864). Only the control group showed a significant postoperative decrease in epithelial thickness in operated eyes (p = 0.021), whereas no significant changes were observed in the test group. Conclusions: The preoperative use of moisturizing eye drops significantly improves the tear film stability, ocular comfort, and epithelial integrity, leading to better postoperative outcomes in cataract surgery patients.