AIM: To evaluate the relationship between clinical tests(traditional and new)\〖lid-wiper epitheliopathy(LWE), lid-parallel conjunctival folds(LIPCOF)\〗 and dry eye symptoms after 3mo of phacoemulsification. The combination of these tests can improve predictive ability for the development of dry eye symptoms.

METHEDS: Tear film was monitored in 43 patients(43 eyes)afterphacoemulsification. A new clinical test was used to evaluate the dry eye symptoms after surgery. Tear meniscus height(TMH), LIPCOF, phenol red thread test(PRTT), corneal and conjunctival staining and LWE grades were observed. The results were analyzed by using SPSS 19.0. Symptoms were assessed by using the ocular surface disease index(OSDI).

RESULTS:LWE was significantly correlated to nasal nasal and temporal side LIPCOF(P<0.05). LIPCOF and LWE were significantly correlated to NIBUT and PRTT(P<0.01). Significant correlations were found between TMH and PRTT(P<0.01). OSDI scores were significantly correlated to TMH, PRTT, LIPCOF and LWE(P<0.05). Significant discriminators of OSDI+/- were nasal LIPCOF \〖area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)(0.803), TMH(0.706), PRTT(0.755), LIPCOF(temporal/sum, 0.725/0.763)and LWE(0.727), etc\〗. Best predictive ability was achieved by nasal LIPCOF.

CONCLUSION: The individual tests TMH, PRTT, LIPCOF and LWE were significantly but moderately related to OSDI scores.