Keratorefractive aspects of the scleral pocket incision and closure method for cataract surgery

All current cataract incisions induce transient and permanent changes in corneal astigmatism. Typically, a two-phase astigmatic response is observed; an initial with-the-rule change is followed by an eventual and permanent against-the-rule shift from preoperative astigmatism. The earlier literature suggests that the magnitude of the net astigmatic swing approximates 6.0 diopters for large limbal wounds closed with interrupted sutures. However, applying the tenets of keratorefractive surgery to the cataract incision and its closure allows the surgeon to limit postoperative iatrogenic astigmatic swings. The reduced phacoemulsification incision size in combination with a scleral pocket closed with a continuous single knotted 10-0 monofilament nylon suture under tonometric and keratometric control significantly dampens the changes in corneal astigmatism during the early and late postoperative periods. My published reports, as evaluated in the present study, reveal that the net astigmatic swing may be reduced to less than 1.5 diopters, thereby affording rapid and stable optical results.