[Surgical correction of astigmatism during cataract surgery]

To evaluate the effect of peripheral limbar relaxing incisions (PLRI) in the reduction of the astigmatism during cataract surgery.

We studied prospectively 103 eyes of 103 patients submitted to PLRI, using the Nichamim nomogram during cataract surgery by phacoemulsification. After the first and sixth month we analized the changes in astigmatism topography, induction of astigmatism and success rate. The patients were divided into two groups according to the astigmatism (with-the-rule and against-the-rule), and studied separately.

There was a statistically significant change in the mean astigmatism topography in the preoperative and postoperative periods in both groups. There was an induction of 1.10 +/- 0.9 D and 37% of success rate in the with-the-rule group and 1.70 +/- 0.80 D and 51% of success rate in the against-the-rule group after six months of follow-up.

The peripherical relaxing limbal incisions (PLRI) are effective in reducing the preoperative astigmatism during cataract surgery. The procedure is safe and easy. The Nichamin nomogram caused hypocorrection in both types of preoperative astigmatism.