Long-term course of surgically induced astigmatism after a 5.0 mm sclerocorneal valve incision.
OBJECTIVE
To study surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after a sutureless 5.0 mm sclerocorneal valve incision.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.


METHODS
This study evaluated SIA in 34 cases of sutureless cataract surgery with a 5.0 mm superior sclerocorneal valve incision and implantation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lens. Keratometry was measured with a Zeiss keratometer in all cases preoperatively, and 1 day, 1 week, 1 and 3 months, and 1 and 5 years postoperatively.


RESULTS
Surgically induced astigmatism, calculated by Cravy's vector analysis, showed an initial mean with-the-rule shift of 0.35 diopter (D), followed by an against-the-rule shift to a mean of -0.30 D after 1 month. One year postoperatively, mean SIA was -0.46 D. Between 1 and 5 years postoperatively, there was a statistically significant increase in mean SIA calculated by Cravy's vector analysis; SIA increased from -0.46 D after 1 year to -0.76 D after 5 years postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
A small, although statistically significant, amount of postoperatively induced astigmatism occurred 5 years after a sutureless 5.0 mm sclerocorneal valve incision.
Rainer
G
G
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Vass
C
C
Menapace
R
R
Papapanos
P
P
Strenn
K
K
Findl
O
O
D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D012590:Sclera / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate