Minimal astigmatism after sutureless planned extracapsular cataract extraction.

PURPOSE

To evaluate astigmatism after mini-nuc extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in which a chevron incision is enlarged to 6.0 to 7.0 mm for easier nucleus removal and to compare the results with those using a 5.0 mm incision.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Holon, Israel.

METHODS

Thirty eyes of 29 patients were enrolled in this study. Keratometry was performed preoperatively and 3 to 9 months postoperatively. The incision length was 6.0 mm in 6 eyes, 6.5 mm in 10 eyes, and 7.0 mm in 14 eyes that had mature cataract.

RESULTS

The mean induced astigmatism calculated by simple subtraction was 0.12 diopter (D) +/- 0.51 (SD), 0.16 +/- 0.98 D, and 0.67 +/- 0.91 D for the 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm, and 7.0 mm incision, respectively. By vector analysis, the mean induced astigmatism was 0.60 +/- 0.30 D, 0.75 +/- 0.67 D, and 1.36 +/- 0.77 D, respectively. Results by both methods showed no significant difference between the previously reported 5.0 mm incision and the 6.0 mm and 6.5 mm incisions. The 7.0 mm group had statistically significantly greater induced astigmatism than the 5.0 mm group (P =.01, simple subtraction; P =.002, vector analysis).

CONCLUSIONS

Enlarging the size of the chevron incision up to 7.0 mm resulted in a small increase in induced astigmatism. The enlarged incision simplified the operative technique.