Dry eye post-cataract surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Significance Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgical procedures worldwide. As a potential complication following cataract surgery, dry eye has the potential to impact visual outcomes, lower patient satisfaction, and be detrimental to quality of life. Purpose To evaluate the effect of cataract surgery on dry eye outcomes postoperatively. Methods We searched Ovid MEDLINE and Embase from 01/01/2010 to 16/08/2021 and included observational studies of participants ≥ 18 years old undergoing any cataract surgical procedure. We compared postoperative dry eye outcomes with baseline including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear break up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s I test (ST1), and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) at short-term (