title: Correction of low corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare aspheric toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and aspheric monofocal IOL implantation with limbal relaxing incisions (LRI) to manage low corneal astigmatism (1.0-2.0 D) in cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized comparative clinical study was performed. There were randomly recruited 102 eyes (102 patients) with cataracts associated with corneal astigmatism and divided into two groups. The first group received toric IOL implantation and the second one monofocal IOL implantation with peripheral corneal relaxing incisions. Outcomes considered were: visual acuity, postoperative residual astigmatism, endothelial cell count, the need for spectacles, and patient satisfaction. To determine the postoperative toric axis, all patients who underwent the toric IOL implantation were further evaluated using an OPD Scan III (Nidek Co, Japan). Follow-up lasted 6mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) demonstrated statistically significant improvement after surgery in both groups. At the end of the follow-up the UCVA was statistically better in the patients with toric IOL implants compared to those patients who underwent implantation of monofocal IOL plus LRI. The mean residual refractive astigmatism was of 0.4 D for the toric IOL group and 1.1 D for the LRI group (P<0.01). No difference was observed in the postoperative endothelial cell count between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two surgical procedures demonstrated a significant decrease in refractive astigmatism. Toric IOL implantation was more effective and predictable compared to the limbal relaxing incision.
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Leon
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Marco Rocco
authors: MR
authors: Pastore
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Zanei
authors: University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Umari
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Meriem
authors: M
authors: Messai
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Corrado
authors: C
authors: Negro
authors: University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Ospedale Maggiore, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, Trieste 34129, Italy.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Tognetto
keywords: cataract surgery; limbal relaxing incisions; low corneal astigmatism; toric intraocular lenses; visual acuity