Change in refractive status of the patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery

This study was carried out with the objective of finding refractive status of patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery for cataract extraction. Success of cataract surgery can be quantified with the improvement in visual acuity with least amount of refractive error. Prospective study of 44 patients was done pre operatively and with subsequent follow up in the first, third and eighth week post operatively. Pre and post operative evaluation was carried out in terms of visual acuity, refractive error and corneal curvature. Among patients undergoing surgery, 91.0% achieved visual acuity of 6/9 or better at eighth week follow up 73.3% of patients had astigmatism of 1.25 dioptric cylinder or less. Keratometry readings showed insignificant variability in the preoperative and postoperative period (p > 0.05). This confirms that phacoemulsification surgery does not change the corneal curvature significantly and thereby induces less amount of astigmatism.