Corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism following combined phacoemulsification and 25-gauge...

To evaluate corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after combined phacoemulsification and 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (25-G TSV).

A retrospective study on 96 eyes of 87 patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and 25-G TSV. The different topographic parameters and SIA were analyzed pre- and postoperatively.

There was no significant changes in corneal topographic parameters at different follow up periods. Only surface regularity index changed significantly in the 2^nd postoperative week and then returned to baseline values thereafter. Mean SIA gradually decreased to reach 0.12 D by the 6^th postoperative month.

Corneal surface and astigmatic changes are insignificant in either early or late postoperative periods following combined phacoemulsification and 25-G TSV. The SIA was the minimum among previous reports on sutureless vitrectomy alone or combined with phacoemulsification. Improvement of SIA did not stop at the 3^rd postoperative month but it continued till the 6^th month postoperatively.