Comprehensive assessment of the condition of the ocular surface in refractive profile patients

Purpose. To conduct a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the ocular surface, including data from subjective and objective methods for the study of dry eye syndrome (DES), in patients who plan to underwent refractive surgery. Material and methods. A comprehensive assessment of the condition of the ocular surface of 30 patients (30 eyes) scheduled for Femto Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (FemtoLASIC) surgery with initially no subjective signs of dry eye syndrome and 30 patients (30 eyes) scheduled for surgery using refractive small incision lenticular extraction technology (SMILE) with initially no subjective signs of dry eye syndrome was carried out. Results. Preoperative results of objective methods of examination of the ocular surface do not correspond to the preoperative results of subjective methods of investigation of dry eye syndrome in patients who plan to underwent refractive surgery. In both groups, there is no reliable correlation between the data of the general standard ophthalmological objective methods of screening for dry eye syndrome and the true condition of the ocular surface. Conclusion. Thus, a comprehensive diagnostic approach to assessing the condition of the ocular surface, based on subjective and objective methods of studying dry eye syndrome, forms a holistic view of the homeostasis of the ocular surface in patients who plan to underwent refractive surgery, followed by the development of an algorithm for choosing the optimal technology for each patient. Key words: tear film, ocular surface, dry eye syndrome, keratorefractive surgery.