Dry Eye Disease and Cataract Surgery

Support: No funding was received in the publication of this article. Ensuring the health of the ocular surface before moving a patient with cataracts to the operating room is essential in achieving an optimal surgical outcome. An impaired ocular surface has an impact on preoperative planning for cataract surgery. Patients with cataracts with concomitant dry eye disease require special consideration to prevent worsening existing symptoms, as well as being properly informed of the risks of dry eye associated with cataract surgery. Dry eye disease may also be a symptom of Sjögren's disease, a systemic autoimmune disease that initially targets primarily the lacrimal and salivary glands, but in its later stages can become systemic, potentially resulting in B cell lymphomas. In an expert interview, Cynthia Matossian discusses her recent research into both dry eye disease and cataract surgery, as well as sharing her highlights from some of this year’s major ophthalmology conferences.