Dakshayini Mallaiah1 , Radhika Srinivasagupta Mohan2 , Mamatha3 , Sanjana Marijogaiah Singasandra4 , Shwetha Bennavara Venkataswamy5 , Shital Laxman Nannaware6
BACKGROUND Dry Eye Disease (DED) is one of the most frequently encountered conditions affecting 5% - 35% of the population. It is common in elderly patients and women. It is a disorder of lacrimal functional unit affecting the ocular surface and tear film. It is a multifactorial disorder due to inflammation of the ocular surface, lacrimal gland, neurotrophic deficiency and Meibomian gland dysfunction. However, the studies on corneal endothelial cell density in dry eye disease are limited. Also, corneal endothelial cell density is an important parameter to be assessed preoperatively before cataract surgery as a low preoperative endothelial cell density can lead to postoperative corneal decompensation due to loss of endothelial cells following surgery, thereby affecting the postoperative visual outcome. Hence, this study was undertaken to compare the endothelial cell density (ECD) in senile cataract patients with and without dry eye disease (DED). METHODS A cross-sectional, comparative study was performed on 30 eyes of 15 patients with DED and 30 eyes of 15 patients without DED presenting to clinical practice for cataract surgery in a tertiary care centre. All patients had complete ophthalmic evaluation and ECD was obtained using specular microscopy in both the groups. Data was analysed using student t –test to compare the two groups. RESULTS The mean endothelial cell density in patients with dry eye disease was 2418.03 ± 128.268 cells/mm2 and in those without dry eye disease was 2620.43 ± 119.188 cells/mm2 . There was statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The endothelial cell density is significantly reduced in patients with dry eye disease. Careful preoperative analysis of endothelial cell density in cataract patients with and without dry eye disease (DED) helps to choose appropriate surgical strategies and to reduce the complications in majority of cases.
