Eye protection following cataract surgery: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: There is a high variability in the use of postoperative eye protection among ophthalmologists. Postoperative eye protection treatment modalities include an eye shield, an eye patch, an ocular bandage, and instant vision. The aim of this study was to review and compare the evidence on the various options for eye protection.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, and original comparative articles that reported on subjective symptoms (e.g., foreign-body sensation, photophobia, tearing, and pain) and postoperative outcomes (e.g., tear film breakup time, best-corrected visual acuity, etc.) after usage of an eye protection method were included.

Results: Overall, 598 eyes across 8 articles were included. Included studies investigated ocular bandages (n = 6), eye patches (n = 4), instant vision (n = 2), and eye shields (n = 1) postoperatively. In 5 studies, patients receiving ocular bandages self-reported symptoms, including pain (n = 3), foreign-body sensation (n = 4), photophobia (n = 3), and tearing (n = 3), at a reduced or equivalent rate compared with other treatment modalities. With the ocular bandage, 3 studies reported increased tear film breakup time, and 1 study reported improvements in corneal wound healing compared with a control group. Two studies reported reduced tear film breakup time for the eye patch relative to the ocular bandage, and another study reported reduced tear film breakup time for instant vision compared with the eye patch.

Conclusions: Patient-reported symptoms are acutely reduced for patients receiving an ocular bandage relative to instant vision following cataract surgery. Patients prefer receiving some form of postoperative protection as opposed to instant vision.