title: [Reduction of induced corneal astigmatism after IOL implantation by small incision technique].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of incision length on corneal astigmatism after intraocular lens implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The change of induced corneal astigmatism was observed in 36 patients underwent phacoemusification cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation through a 6.5 mm limbal incision comparing with that in extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation through a 11 mm limbal incision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgically induced astigmatism in 1 week, 1.3 and 6 months after the operation was 2.13 +/- 1.41, 1.58 +/- 1.07, 0.92 +/- 0.75 and 0.77 +/- 0.55D in 6.5 mm limbal incision group while that was 4.63 +/- 1.39, 3.08 +/- 1.11, 2.52 +/- 0.89 and 2.04 +/- 0.87 in 11 mm incision group, the difference in the same postoperative period was significant (P < 0.05). At 1 week and 1 month postoperatively, 52.8% and 61.41% of 6.5 mm limbal incision cases had uncorrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better compared with 28.6% and 37.1% of 11 mm incision cases (P < 0.05). There was no difference of the uncorrected visual acuity 6 months after the surgery between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing incision can minimize surgically induced astigmatism and promote early postoperative visual rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*