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The effect of sodium hyaluronate on dry eye and corneal epithelial thickness following cataract surgery

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of sodium hyaluronate drops on dry eye parameters and corneal epithelial thickness following cataract surgery.

Methods

The study included 84 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification. In Group A, 0.15% sodium hyaluronate drops were added to the postoperative antibiotic/anti-inflammatory treatment. In Group B, only antibiotic/anti-inflammatory treatment was applied. Preoperatively and at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively, all the patients were evaluated in respect of tear break-up time (TBUT), the Schirmer test under anesthesia, the corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, mean central corneal thickness (CCT) and mean central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET), and the two groups were compared.

Results

A statistically significant difference was determined between the two groups at postoperative 1 month in respect of TBUT, Schirmer test, CFS score, and CCET (p < 0.01). In Group A, a statistically significant increase was determined in the TBUT and Schirmer values at 1 month postoperatively (p < 0.01, p = 0.01, respectively) and in Group B, these values were decreased compared to preoperatively (p < 0.01). The CCET was determined to be significantly thinner in Group B 1 month postoperatively (p < 0.01). A significant increase in CCT was observed in both groups at postoperative 1 week (p < 0.01) and preoperative values were reached at 1 month postoperatively.

Conclusion

In the patient group using sodium hyaluronate, significant differences were determined in all dry eye parameters and CCET. The use of hyaluronate sodium drops after cataract surgery was seen to improve dry eye parameters and contribute to a healthy ocular surface by ensuring continuity of the corneal epithelium.

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Funding

No funding was received for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital, Eye Clinic, Elazig, Turkey

    Elif Yusufoğlu & Sinem Keser

Authors
  1. Elif Yusufoğlu
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  2. Sinem Keser
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Contributions

The idea of reserach: Elif Yusufoğlu; Designed the method of the study: Elif Yusufoğlu, Sinem Keser; Colletting data: Elif Yusufoğlu, Sinem Keser; Source research: Elif Yusufoğlu, Sinem Keser; Wrote the main manuscript: Elif Yusufoğlu.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elif Yusufoğlu.

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Competing interests

The authors have not disclosed any competing interests.

Ethical approval

Approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Firat University of Medical Sciences. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Yusufoğlu, E., Keser, S. The effect of sodium hyaluronate on dry eye and corneal epithelial thickness following cataract surgery. Int Ophthalmol 44, 211 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-024-03128-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-024-03128-3

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