AIM: To explore efficacy of the different kinds of artificial tears treatment in patients with xerophthalmia after phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS: Totally 280 patients(280 eyes)with xerophthalmia after operation in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2016 were selected. According to the different treatment methods, they were divided into control group(n=70; treated with tobramycin and dexamethasone eye ointment 3 times per day for 1wk, levofloxacin eye drops 3 times per day for 1wk, pranoprofen eye drops 4 times per day for 1mo), polyacrylic acid group(n=70; besides the treatment of control group, polyacrylic acid was used 4 times per for 1mo), polyethylene glycol group(n=70; besides the treatment of control group, polyethylene glycol was used 4 times per for 1mo)and sodium hyaluronate group(n=70; besides the treatment of control group, sodium hyaluronate was used 4 times per for 1mo). The tear film break up time(BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt), symptoms of dry eye and corneal staining in four groups were observed.

RESULTS:(1)BUT: The BUT of the four groups significantly increased after treatment(P<0.05); that of polyacrylic acid group, polyethylene glycol group, and sodium hyaluronate group was different compared with control group(P<0.05); the BUT in sodium hyaluronate group was significantly higher than the other groups after 2wk of treatment(P<0.05).(2)SⅠt: SⅠt of the four groups significant increased after treatment(P<0.05); that of polyacrylic acid group, polyethylene glycol group, and sodium hyaluronate group was different compared with control group(P<0.05); and the SⅠt in sodium hyaluronate group was significantly higher than other groups(P<0.05).(3)Xeroma score: the scores of dry eye significantly decreased after treatment in the four groups(P<0.05); that of polyacrylic acid group, polyethylene glycol group, and sodium hyaluronate group was different compared with control group(P<0.05); and the scores of the sodium hyaluronate group after 3wk was significantly lower compared with other groups(P<0.05).(4)Corneal staining score: the scores significantly decreased after treatment in the four groups(P<0.05); at 1 and 2wk after treatment the corneal staining score had not statistically different among the four groups(P>0.05); sodium hyaluronate group was significant lower than other groups in corneal staining score at 3wk and 1mo after treatment(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Artificial tears in the treatment of xerophthalmia after cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation has better clinical efficacy, which contains sodium hyaluronate may be the better than others.