Evaluation of the ocular surface following bariatric surgery.

PURPOSE:

To identify and evaluate changes in the ocular surface in obese patients with bariatric surgery.

METHODS:

The study included 89 randomly selected patients; 81 (91.0%) were women, 35 were preoperative, 32 were included 0-12 months after surgery, and 22 were included >12 months after surgery. All patients completed a dry eye-specific questionnaire and were evaluated by the tear ferning test, tear-film breakup time (BUT), Schirmer's test I, examination of the ocular surface by 1% rose Bengal staining, and impression cytology. Patients were questioned about compliance with nutritional supplementation.

RESULTS:

The pre- and postoperative groups did not differ significantly in age (p=0.082), but did differ in body mass index (p<0.001). All test values are within the normal range and there was no statistically significant difference in ocular surface disease index score between the preoperative and postoperative periods. The mean tear-film BUT was lower than that considered normal (10 s) at each time it was tested. No statistically significant group differences were observed in Schirmer's test, BUT, rose Bengal staining, or impression cytology. A high rate of noncompliance with nutritional supplementation was observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

No symptoms of xerophthalmia developed in this series of bariatric surgery patients. No changes were observed in any of the specific tests used to evaluate the ocular surface up to 5 years after surgery compared with presurgery results.