Paired opposite clear corneal incision: time-related changes of its effect and factors on which those changes depend.
OBJECTIVE
To assess astigmatism induced by paired opposite clear corneal incision (OCCI) compared to single incisions and to investigate factors on which its effect depends.


METHODS
The study comprised 326 eyes from 326 patients. In patients with <1.0 D corneal astigmatism, clear corneal incision was performed (CC group, n = 245), and in those with >1.0 D preoperative corneal astigmatism, a second, opposite clear corneal incision was made (OCCI group, n = 81). Both groups consisted of superior, temporal, and oblique subgroups according to the steepest meridian. Prior to the surgery, and after surgery, repeated keratometry was performed and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was calculated using vector analysis.


RESULTS
Two weeks after the surgery, the SIA was 0.67 ± 0.44 D in the CC group and 1.15 ± 0.65 D in the OCCI group; 9 weeks after the operation, it was 0.61 ± 0.43 D in the CC group and 0.99 ± 0.57 D in the OCCI group (p<0.001). The SIA showed no significant postoperative change in our groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Opposite clear corneal incision reliably induces about 1.0 D of corneal astigmatism on the steep meridian in proportion to the rate of preoperative astigmatism. Its magnitude is independent of the location of the incisions and its effect remains unchanged during the postoperative period.
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen - Hungary.
Gabor
G
Nemeth
Bence
B
Kolozsvari
Andras
A
Berta
Modis
M
Laszlo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology