Effect of superior and temporal clear corneal incisions on astigmatism after sutureless phacoemulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of superior and temporal clear corneal incisions on astigmatism after sutureless, small incision phacoemulsification.


METHODS
World Eye Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.


METHODS
This prospective study evaluated 40 eyes of 20 patients with cataract having bilateral, sutureless, small incision phacoemulsification by the same surgeon. A superior clear corneal incision was used in all right eyes and a temporal clear corneal incision in all left eyes. Mean preoperative astigmatism was 0.63 diopter (D) +/- 0.21 (SD) and 0.65 +/- 0.20 D, respectively. Mean patient age was 66.45 years. Patients were examined preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
Three months postoperatively, mean astigmatism was 1.60 +/- 0.37 D in the superior incision group and 0.83 +/- 0.19 D in the temporal incision group. Induced astigmatism calculated by vector analysis was 1.44 +/- 0.31 D and 0.62 +/- 0.28 D, respectively. The temporal incision group had significantly lower astigmatism at all follow-ups (P = .000).


CONCLUSIONS
Upper lid pressure on the superior corneal incisions led to fluctuating, against-the-rule astigmatism that was significantly higher than that induced by temporal incisions.
Simşek
S
S
Yüzüncü Yil Universitesi Tip Fak Hastanesi, Van, Turkey.
Yaşar
T
T
Demirok
A
A
Cinal
A
A
Yilmaz
O F
OF
D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*