Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with corneal surface changes following phacoemulsification cataract surgery have lower visual acuity compared to those with normal findings of the anterior ocular surface after the procedure. Study type: Prospective cohort study Participants and Methods: The study included a total of 81 adult patients, both male and female, who underwent successive phacoemulsification cataract surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek from October 2022 to April 2023. Each patient's age and gender were documented, along with slit lamp examination, fluorescein test, tear break up time (TBUT) test, and visual acuity evaluation on the day of cataract surgery and 30 days after the surgery. The study aimed to analyze the changes in tear film and visual acuity before and after the cataract surgery. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon on phacoemulsification cataract surgery device CENTURION (Alcon, 2021) and ended with intraocular lens implantation. Results: Significant improvement in visual acuity (1.0) was observed after surgery (Wilcoxon test, P < 0,001), while the TBUT test showed significantly poorer results after surgery with a median of 7 seconds compared to preoperative TBUT test results (Wilcoxon test, P = 0,001). After surgery, 26 out of 81 participants experienced dry eye (TBUT test < 6 seconds and positive fluorescein test). Three participants (4%) had severe blepharitis. Patients who rated their quality of life as unaffected had significantly higher TBUT values after the procedure (Kruskal Wallis test, P < 0,001). Conclusion: After phacoemulsification cataract surgery, a significant increase in visual acuity was observed, while the quality of the tear film was reduced compared to preoperative findings.