Astigmatism induced by oblique clear corneal incision: right vs. left eyes.
BACKGROUND
To compare the induced astigmatism after phacoemulsification in the right vs. the left eye.


METHODS
An oblique clear corneal incision was made in a superotemporal location in the right (n = 344) and a superonasal location in the left (n = 292) eye. Retrospectively, patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative visual acuity, and induced astigmatism values were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t , chi2, and Mann-Whitney U tests.


RESULTS
The proportion of against-the-rule astigmatism and surgically induced astigmatism values were significantly larger in the left-eye group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgically induced astigmatism occurred to a greater extent in the left eyes compared with the right, possibly because of structural differences.
Altan-Yaycioglu
Rana
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Baskent University, Adana, Turkey. raltanya@yahoo.com
Pelit
Aysel
A
Evyapan
Ozcan
O
Akova
Yonca A
YA
D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity