Objective To investigate the effect of small incision enucleation combined with postoperative deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) ophthalmic gel in the treatment of patient with senile hard nuclear cataract.

Methods A prospective study was adopted to select 94 patients (108 eyes) with senile hard nuclear cataract, and they were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 47 cases in each group. The control group was treated with small incision enucleation, while the observation was treated with additional DCBE ophthalmic gel on the basis of the control group, and both groups were treated for a week. After 3 months of follow up, the differences in visual acuity, astigmatism degree, postoperative efficacy, tear secretion, rupture time of tear film, score of corneal fluorescence staining, serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), levels of inflammatory factors and complications were compared between two groups.

Results At 4, 8 and 12 weeks after operation, the scores of visual acuity scale in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the conditions of astigmatism before operation and 1 week, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after operation in patients (P>0.05). The score of therapeutic effect in both groups increased significantly, and the scores of therapeutic effect at 1 week and 4 weeks after operation in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The length of lacrimal secretion in the observation group was significantly longer than that in the control group at 1 week and 4 weeks after operation (P < 0.05). The rupture time of tear film in the patients of the observation group was significantly longer than that in the control group at 1 week and 4 weeks after the operation (P < 0.05). The levels of hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and β2-MG in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in corneal edema, transient high intraocular pressure, pupil deformation and turbid aqueous humor between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Small incision enucleation combined with postoperative DCBE ophthalmic gel is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with senile hard nuclear cataract, which can significantly down-regulate the serum levels of β2-MG and inflammatory factors.