PREOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF DRY EYE DISEASE AND OUTCOMES OF LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY IN A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY WITH OCULAR SURFACE DISEASE INDEX ASSESSMENT PREOPERATIVELY AND AT 6 MONTHS

Authors:

Abstract:

To evaluate the effect of preoperative management of dry eye disease on postoperative symptom dynamics, assessed by the Ocular Surface Disease Index, after laser refractive surgery. The study enrolled 185 active-duty military personnel, allocated to two cohorts: group I (n=90) with preoperatively confirmed dry eye disease who received standard ocular-surface therapy; and group II (n=95) with no indication for preoperative treatment of dry eye disease. Postoperatively, all patients were prescribed lubricating eye drops. Follow-up visits were performed at 1 and 6 months. Assessments comprised the Schirmer test and tear break-up time measured before surgery and at 1 and 6 months. Preoperatively, statistically significant between-group differences were observed for most Ocular Surface Disease Index items (χ², p<0.001). By month 6, symptom severity decreased in both cohorts. Routine use of the standardized Ocular Surface Disease Index at pre- and postoperative stages helps objectify ocular-surface status and enables timely adjustment of management strategies.

Keywords:

refractive surgery dry eye disease Ocular Surface Disease Index military personnel

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026) , с. 103-107
УДК 617.7:616.52

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2026-1-95-103-107