Determination of maximal incision length for true small-incision surgery.
We studied induced astigmatism in cadaver eyes to determine how small a limbal incision must be to avoid a long-term corneal flattening induced by limbal incisions along the meridian of the incision. We performed scleral pocket incisions (2.0 to 5.5 mm in 0.5-mm increments) on 12 fresh human cadaver globes, recessing the incisions 0.5 mm to simulate the natural wound sliding that causes corneal flattening. We found that with increasing incision length there was a nearly linear increase in corneal flattening. The maximal incision length that minimized induction of corneal flattening in excess of 0.25 diopters was 3.0 mm.
Samuelson
S W
SW
Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Koch
D D
DD
Kuglen
C C
CC
D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*