AIM: To investigate the effect of Carbomer eye gel and recombinant human epidermal growth factor(rhEGF)on dry eye after cataract surgery in diabetics.

METHODS:A total of 160 patients(160 eyes)with diabetes undergone phacoemulsification with a diagnosis of dry eyes were randomized divided into two groups, treatment group(80 cases, 80 eyes)and control group(80 cases, 80 eyes). In treatment group, the patients were treated by Carbomer eye gel and rhEGF. In control group, the patients were treated by Carbomer eye gel. The subjective dry eye symptoms, tear break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SⅠt)and cornea fluorescein staining(FL)were observed before treatment, 1, 4wk after treatment.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups before treatment(P>0.05). After treatment at 1, 4wk, the subjective dry eye symptoms and the results of three examination(BUT, SⅠt and FL)in two groups better than those before treatment(P<0.01). And there was significant difference between experimental group and control group(P<0.05; P<0.01), the results of BUT, SIt and FL were improved in treatment group better than that in control group(P<0.01). All patients showed good tolerance to Carbomer eye gel and recombinant human epidermal growth factor.

CONCLUSION: Carbomer eye gel can relieve the dry eye symptoms of diabetes after phacoemulsification effectively, and it can be more effective to combine Carbomer eye gel with rhEGF at early stage after phacoemulsification.