Corneal astigmatism after clear corneal and corneoscleral incisions for cataract surgery
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H M Poort-van Nouhuijs1, K H Hendrickx, W F van Marle
1Rotterdam Eye Hospital, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
To compare the astigmatism induced by clear corneal incisions (CCIs) and corneoscleral tunnel incisions (CSIs) for cataract surgery over 6 months.
Setting:
Rotterdam Eye Hospital, rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Methods:
Thirty-five patients having phacoemulsification were recruited prospectively; 15 had CCIs and 20, CSIs. Corneal topography was performed by computerized videokeratoscopy preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The change in keratometric astigmatism was calculated using the absolute magnitude and vector analysis methods.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the change in astigmatism produced by the two incisions (Student's t-test).
Conclusion:
The CCI for cataract surgery did not produce significantly greater astigmatism than the CSI. Concern over CCIs having a greater risk of increasing corneal astigmatism is unfounded and does not justify withholding the technique from patients it could benefit.