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New device evaluates dry eye risk preoperatively
 Béatrice Cochener |
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Minimizing postoperative dry eye is a major goal of refractive surgeons, with careful preoperative evaluation of the ocular surface playing a crucial role in preventing the condition, a physician said here.
Dry eye is the most common complication of laser refractive surgery, Béatrice Cochener, MD, said, in a keynote lecture at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. After LASIK, 50% of patients develop common dry eye symptoms, and 10% evolve to more severe disturbances, such as fluctuation of vision, glare and severe discomfort, she said.
The TearLab Osmolarity Test system (TearLab Corporation) is a device that measures tear osmolarity and provides reliable data for preoperative ocular surface assessment.
"By using this new platform, we found that 44% of the patients have asymptomatic dryness before surgery, with no correlation between objective tests and subjective scores," Dr. Cochener said. "Consequently, we were able to define the population who needs preoperative treatment and more intense and prolonged postoperative treatment. We were also able to test the changes after the use of lubricants and to compare the efficacy of different agents. This device could greatly improve our standards of care."
- Disclosure: Dr. Cochener has no direct financial interest in the products discussed in this article nor is she a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.
