title: [Clinical observation of astigmatism induced by corneal incision after phacoemulsification].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes of astigmatism induced by corneal incision after phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phacoemulsification was performed on 62 cases (78 eyes) without suture for a corneal incision. The changes of corneal astigmatism before and after operation in group A (incision at the superior nasal or superior temporal) and B (incision at the steepest corneal meridian) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after the operation, the surgical induced astigmatism was (0.83 plus minus 0.65) D and (0.72 plus minus 0.55) D in group A and B respectively. There was no significant difference, statistically (P > 0.05). The changes of corneal astigmatism were 0.11 D and 0.39 D in group A and B respectively, the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgically induced astigmatism is very small after a corneal incision in phacoemulsification without a suture. If the incision is placed on the steepest meridian, the corneal astigmatism can be significantly reduced postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Eye Institute & Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing