Outcomes of a Management Strategy in Eyes with Corneal Irregularity and Cataract

Purpose. To evaluate the outcomes of a management strategy in patients with irregular corneas and cataract. Methods. Six eyes of four patients presented for cataract surgery with irregular corneas following corneal refractive surgery. Topoguided ablation regularised the cornea, followed by phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Zonal keratometric coefficient of variation (ZKCV) measured structural changes and visual quality metrics measured functional improvement. Results. The mean duration after corneal refractive surgery was 7.83 ± 2.40 years. The logmar uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.67 ± 0.25) and the corrected distance visual acuity (0.38 ± 0.20) improved to 0.34 ± 0.14 and 0.18 ± 0.10, respectively. The changes in the standard deviations of the zonal keratometry values and the ZKCV were statistically significant in the 2, 3, and 4 mm zones. The changes in the Strehl ratio (ANOVA p = 0.043) were also statistically significant. Conclusions. Corneal regularisation followed by phacoemulsification resulted in lower residual refractive error with improved visual quality metrics. This strategy is a viable option in patients with symptomatic cataracts and irregular corneas.