Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment. This study was performed to compare effects of two different incision types in cataract surgery on dry eye symptoms and diagnostic test values. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 300 patients with cataract requiring phacoemulsification were studied. The patients were randomly divided into two operative method groups: limbal and clear corneal (anterior to the vascular arcade) incision. A complete set of ophthalmic examinations and tear related tests were done for all of the patients before surgery and one week and one month after surgery. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and EPI-Info softwares. Results: Overall, 149 men and 151 women were enrolled in this study. On the first postoperative week, the means of symptoms, and TBUT and TMH values in both groups significantly decreased compared with the preoperative values. These values returned to the preoperative levels one month postoperatively which werein contrast to the changes of debri, PEE, corneal and conjnnctival staining. There were statistically significant differences between the results of pre- and post-operative symptoms, PEE, debri, TBUT, conjunctival and corneal staining. Except for TBUT, the results of these tests were not statistically different according to incision location. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification cataract surgery affects dry eye symptoms and diagnostic test values. In addition, except for TBUT, the location of incision had no effect on other test results and symptoms.

Keywords: Dry eye, cataract, phacoemulsification, incision location

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