title: Comparative evaluation of aspheric toric intraocular lens implantation and limbal relaxing incisions in eyes with cataracts and ≤3 dioptres of astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the visual outcomes of aspheric toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and limbal relaxing incisions (LRI) for management of coexisting age-related cataracts and astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, sixty eyes of 60 patients with visually significant cataract and coexisting corneal astigmatism ≤3 dioptres (D) were randomised to undergo phacoemulsification with either aspheric toric IOL or aspheric monofocal IOL with LRI. The main outcome measures were postoperative 3-month uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), contrast sensitivity, rotational stability of the toric IOL and spectacle independence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative UCVA, contrast sensitivity and refractive astigmatism were significantly better than the baseline measurements for both groups (p≤0.001). There was no significant difference detected for these parameters between LRI and toric IOL groups postoperatively (p≥0.119). At both postoperative month 1 and 3, the percentages of eyes in need of spectacles were lower in toric group than LRI group (p≤0.030). IOL misalignment was noted in three eyes in the toric IOL group (mean misalignment 7.67±4.04°). On vector analysis, magnitude of error (ME) was negative in the LRI group indicating undercorrection, whereas the ME was close to zero for toric group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both toric IOL implantation and LRI were effective in correcting corneal astigmatism ≤3 D during phacoemulsification, while LRI tended to undercorrect astigmatism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Douglas K T
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Vanissa W S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Paul Ka-Fai
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jhanji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Treatment Surgery