title: Astigmatism after a large scleral pocket incision in extracapsular cataract extraction.
abstract: In this four-month prospective study, we measured astigmatism in 116 patients who had extracapsular cataract extraction through a 13 mm scleral pocket incision. In one group, the wound was closed with five radial 10-0 polypropylene sutures. Early and late postoperative astigmatism in this group was approximately 2 diopters (D), but a significant shift to against-the-rule astigmatism occurred. In a second group, an additional 10-0 polypropylene horizontal suture was placed anteriorly to the radial suture at the 12 o'clock meridian. This reduced the against-the-rule astigmatic decay. Moreover, this group had less postoperative astigmatism. Mean corneal astigmatism was 2.27 D at one week, 1.76 D at one month, 1.37 D at two months, and 1.70 D at four months. In neither group was cutting the sutures necessary.
authors.affiliation: St. Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lemagne
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kallay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques