PPV’s Effects on Dry Eye Peak at One Month, Resolve by Three Months

Awareness and early management of ocular surface changes are advised after PPV is performed. Click image to enlarge. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is the most common surgical approach to retinal diseases such as retinal detachments, epiretinal membranes and macular holes. A study presented at ARVO 2026 in Denver evaluated the effect of PPV on dry eye signs and symptoms and identified potential associated factors. It determined that PPV causes transient postoperative worsening of dry eye parameters, peaking at one month and resolving by three months.“Awareness and early management of ocular surface changes are advised,” the study author wrote in the abstract. “The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire may have limited reliability after retinal surgery due to visual recovery effects.”This prospective study included 60 consecutive patients undergoing primary PPV. The mean age was 70.4 years, and 67% were women. Dry eye was assessed preoperatively and at one and three months postoperatively using the Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining, tear osmolarity and the OSDI questionnaire. Combined phaco-vitrectomy was performed in 43.7% of cases, and 78.3% received retrobulbar anesthesia.Mean Schirmer scores declined at one month (8.5mm vs. 11.7mm) but returned to baseline by three months. Lissamine green staining and lubricant use increased transiently and normalized by three months. OSDI scores worsened at one month (33.8) but improved by three months (25.4). TBUT, superficial punctate keratopathy and osmolarity remained stable. Older age correlated with lower Schirmer values at one month, and sub-Tenon anesthesia with general anesthesia was linked to higher OSDI scores.Original abstract ©2026 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.Click here for the source. Shwartz S. Post-vitrectomy dry eye: a prospective study of ocular surface changes and associated risk factors. ARVO 2026 annual meeting. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.