Astigmatic shift following sutureless, triplanar, curvilinear, single hinge, clear corneal incision for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Questions remain regarding wound stability, in particular astigmatism and leakage, in large, sutureless, clear corneal incisions. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implant, which may be more desirable than a silicone foldable in a very young patient, can be implanted through this incision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty eyes of 19 patients underwent a 5.2-mm, temporal approach, clear corneal, sutureless phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. The Langerman single hinge technique with a curvilinear groove and a triplanar, sutureless incision was used in all cases.

RESULTS

The average axis-corrected induced cylinder was 1.05 D of with-the-rule change. Stromal hydration was not done and only one eye required a single suture.

CONCLUSION

A 5.2-mm, clear corneal incision was self-sealing, with an acceptable induced with-the-rule astigmatism.