Clear cornea sutureless phacoemulsification and astigmatic decay after two years.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether clear cornea temporal sutureless sections lead to astigmatic decay over a 2 year period.


METHODS
The difference between (a) pre-operative keratometric cylinder and keratometric cylinder at final follow-up, and (b) spectacle cylinder at 1 month post-operation and final follow-up, was calculated for 43 eyes.


RESULTS
The mean difference in keratometric cylinder between pre-operation and final follow-up was 0.12 D with the rule (WTR) or against the wound. The range was from 0.7 D WTR to 0.4 D against the rule (ATR). Eighty-two per cent of eyes did not change by more than 0.3 D. The mean change in spectacle prescription between 1 month post-operation and final follow-up was 0.05 D ATR, range 0.5 D WTR to 1.0 D ATR. At final follow-up 93% of eyes were seeing 20/40 or better unaided.


CONCLUSIONS
A carefully constructed temporal wound can remain astigmatically neutral.
Percival
P
P
Scarborough Hospital, UK.
Beare
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity