AIM: To evaluate the ocular surface changes after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with type 2 diabetes in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

METHODS: Thirty cataract patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with type 2 diabetes mellitus(40 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification procedure were included in the study as experimental group. And 38 cataract patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region without diabetes mellitus(45 eyes)operated in the same period were included in this study as contrast group. The Symptoms of dry eyes, corneal fluorescein(FL)staining, break-up time(BUT)of tear film, and Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt)value were analyzed and compared between two groups preoperatively and 1d, 7d, 30d, 90d, 180d postoperatively.

RESULTS: Compared two groups of dry eye symptom, the results showed the difference was statistically significant. Different time between both groups, the difference was statistically significant. Compared preoperative and postoperative 180d in control group with dry eye symptoms, the difference was statistically significant. Two groups of FL, BUT and SⅠt in a different set of comparison, the difference was statistically significant. Different time between both groups, the difference was statistically significant. Postoperative 1d, 7d and 30d compared with the preoperative, FL increased, BUT shorted, SⅠt secretion decreased in two groups, the difference was statistically significant. Postoperative 90d compared with the preoperative, experimental group increased, FL increased, BUT shorted, SⅠt reduced in two groups, the difference was statistically significant. The control secretion with FL, BUT, SⅠt were closed to preoperative levels, the differences were no statistically significant. Postoperative 180d compared with the preoperative, FL, BUT, SⅠt were closed to preoperative levels in two groups, the differences were no statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetic cataract patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have tear film dysfunction and are susceptible to dry eye. The tear film stability of diabetic cataract reduces significantly at early stage after phacoemulsification and recover much slowly. The secretion and stability of tear decreased in the short term after phacoemulsification procedure, and would recover gradually. The reason may be related to many factors such as the sandstorm in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. More research is needed. The preventions and treatment should be taken clinically.