Reliability of Ocular Surface and Biometric Measurements Under Face Mask Exposure: A Narrative Review

Background

The widespread global adoption of facial respiratory barriers across diverse clinical and public environments has led to a significant increase in specialized consultations regarding unexpected ocular irritation and surface dryness. This clinical presentation, often secondary to mask-associated ocular symptoms, represents a unique challenge for accurate preoperative assessment in cataract surgery. This narrative review provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the literature exploring the relationship between mask-induced microenvironmental stress, patient-reported symptoms and objective tear film parameters, focusing specifically on their distinct impacts on preoperative ocular biometry and diagnostic measurement reliability for cataract surgery planning.