Surgically induced astigmatism after superotemporal and superonasal clear corneal incisions in phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE

To evaluate surgically induced corneal astigmatism after small superotemporal and superonasal clear corneal incision cataract surgery.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Afyon Kocatepe, Afyon, Turkey.

METHODS

This prospective study comprised 56 eyes of 28 patients who had bilateral phacoemulsification and implantation of a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) through a corneal tunnel incision. A superotemporal incision was used in all right eyes, and a superonasal incision was used in all left eyes. Topography was performed preoperatively and at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months, and 1 year. Surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was calculated by vector analyses using the Holladay-Cravy-Koch method. The incision length was measured and was between 3.30 mm and 3.50 mm in all eyes.

RESULTS

Although SIA did not differ significantly between the 2 incision groups (P>.05), decomposition of vectors showed that the horizontal component of SIA after superonasal incision was statistically significantly higher than superotemporal incision throughout the study (P<.05). Vertical components of SIA and the incision size after IOL implantation with the syringe/cartridge system between the 2 incision groups were not significantly different (P>.05).

CONCLUSION

There was no statistically significant difference in SIA between superotemporal incisions in the right eyes and superonasal incisions in the left eyes 1 year after surgery for a surgeon who sits at the 12 o'clock. Superonasal clear corneal incisions can be used in left eyes and superotemporal clear corneal incisions in right eyes.