Dry eye and cytological conjunctival changes in patients undergoing LASIK Surgery

Abstract

Dry eye is one of the most common complications of refractive surgery, persists for 6 months or more after Lasik. <em><strong>Objective:</strong></em> to evaluate the cytological changes in the conjunctiva after Lasik surgery and its relationship with the degree of severity of dry eye. <em><strong>Methods:</strong></em> twenty five patients (50 eyes) to whom underwent Lasik surgery at the clinic Optilaser SA were evaluated before surgery, one month and three months after Lasik with the following tests: TBUT, Schirmer test, slit lamp and symptoms questionnaire for diagnosis and severity of dry eye and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC), the smears were stained with PAS-hematoxylin to determine the degree of squamous metaplasia. <em><strong>Results:</strong></em> in preoperative to 8% of patients had moderate dry eye, a month after surgery 48% had moderate to severe dry eye, three months, the percentage was similar (44%). Before surgery, the 8% of eyes had an altered CIC, one month and three months, 65,3% of patients had some degree of squamous metaplasia (X2 = 0,000). In the first control, CIC had altered: 77,8% non-dry eye, 57,1% with mild dry eye, 59,1% with moderate dry eye and 100% of severe dry eye. On the third month after surgery was similar, 57,1% of mild dry eyes, 78,6% of moderate dry eyes and 100% of squamous metaplasia had severe grade 2, 3 and 4. <em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> severity of cytological changes was increased significantly each month and third month after surgery. The alteration of the conjunctival epithelium, contributes to the pathogenesis of dry eye induced by refractive surgery.