AIM:To evaluate the effect of combined glaucoma and cataract surgery on the function of eye surface and tear film.

METHODS:This clinical trial involved 75 patients(75 eyes)with glaucoma complicated with cataract undergoing combined glaucoma and cataract surgery. All the eyes were divided into surgical group(the eyes undergoing operation)and control group(the other eyes).The symptoms and signs of dry eye disease, Schirmer's I test, break-up time(BUT), corneal fluorescein staining were tested and marked 1mo after operation. Comparison of the results was made between two groups.

RESULTS: The average intraocular pressure was 16.25±0.46mmHg at 1mo after operation, compared with 45.29±4.39mmHg at 3d before surgery, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Preoperative average visual acuity was 0.08±0.06, corrected visual acuity was <0.05 in 23 eyes, ≥0.05 to <0.1 in 16 eyes, ≥0.1 to <0.3 in 36 eyes. Postoperatively 1mo, corrected visual acuity: <0.05 for 7 eyes(9%), ≥0.05 to <0.1 for 11 eyes(15%), ≥0.1 to <0.3 for 38 eyes(51%), ≥0.3 to <0.5 for 11 eyes(15%), ≥0.5 for 8 eyes(11%), postoperative visual acuity was 0.15±0.1, which was significantly higher than before surgeries(P<0.05). The postoperative dry eye symptoms of surgical group was higher, compared with that of control group, and the differences of diagnosis of dry eye test indicators between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Combined cataract and glaucoma surgery may affect postoperative ocular surface and tear film function, make the tear film stability damaged and lead to dry eye disease.