title: Long-term stability of keratometric astigmatism after limbal relaxing incisions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the keratometric stability of limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) performed during cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Princess Royal University Hospital, Kent, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical notes of patients who had small-incision cataract surgery combined with LRIs between November 2006 and December 2010 were reviewed. Keratometric astigmatism was measured using Scheimpflug pachymetry (Pentacam). Surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was calculated using the Astig Plot application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty eyes of 20 patients were evaluated. The median keratometric astigmatism preoperatively and 2 weeks, 10 weeks, and 3 years postoperatively was 2.1 diopters (D) (interquartile range [IQR], 1.7 to 2.4 D), 1.3 D (IQR, 0.9 to 2.1 D), 1.2 D (IQR, 0.5 to 1.7 D), and 1.0 D (IQR, 0.7 to 1.4 D), respectively. There were no significant differences in keratometric astigmatism between 2 weeks and 10 weeks postoperatively (P=.35) or between 10 weeks and 3 years postoperatively (P=.72). The median SIA 2 weeks, 10 weeks, and 3 years postoperatively was 2.2 D (IQR, 1.6 to 4.1 D), 2.1 D (IQR, 1.2 to 2.7 D), and 1.8 D (IQR, 1.2 to 2.5 D), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in SIA between 2 weeks and 10 weeks postoperatively (P=.002) but not between 10 weeks and 3 years postoperatively (P=.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The keratometric effects of LRIs were stable from 10 weeks to 3 years postoperatively.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Dr. Borasio is the creator of Astig Plot. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom. Electronic address: limrongxuan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rongxuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: From Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edmondo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borasio
authors.affiliation: From Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ilari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies