High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid, Trehalose and Sacha Inchi Oil Drops in Post-Cataract Dry Eye Symptoms

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Following cataract surgery, many patients experience persistent dry eye symptoms, adversely affecting their quality of life. These symptoms are particularly prevalent among elderly patients and may be exacerbated by topical anesthesia, surgical lighting exposure, and postoperative medications preservatives. Effective management of these symptoms is crucial for patient satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil eye drops in alleviating postoperative discomfort in patients undergoing cataract surgery.
METHODS: A prospective, randomized and comparative study was conducted. Prior to cataract surgery and at four weeks postoperation, assessments were conducted for dry eye symptoms using an ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire validated to Portuguese language. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil eye drops five times daily in addition to standard postoperative drops, while Group B received only the standard postoperative drops for four weeks.
RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were enrolled: 41 in Group A (73.7 ± 7.0 years) and 35 in Group B (75.1 ± 5.9 years). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding age, gender, best corrected visual acuity pre- and postoperatively, or mean pre-operative OSDI scores. Significant improvement in OSDI scores was observed in both groups following cataract surgery. However, the reduction in symptoms was more pronounced in Group A, with mean OSDI scores at four weeks showing a significant difference between the two groups (18.4 in Group A and 24.7 in Group B, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The combination of hyaluronic acid/trehalose/sacha inchi oil eye drops proved highly effective in relieving dry eye symptoms following cataract surgery. Notably, we hypothesize that the decrease in OSDI scores might be primarily related to the six vision-related function questions on the OSDI questionnaire, highlighting the positive impact of cataract surgery on these aspects. Although dry eye symptoms might be expected to worsen post-surgery, leading to a higher overall OSDI score, the observed improvement suggests that the benefits of surgery outweigh the anticipated aggravation of dry eye symptoms. Thus, addressing these symptoms effectively is crucial for optimizing clinical outcomes and enhancing patient satisfaction.