[Phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a limbus tunnel incision].

OBJECTIVE: To advance and evaluate the technique and therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a limbus tunnel incision. METHODS: The surgery was performed through a 3.2 limbus tunnel incision on 110 eyes of 103 patients with senile, complicated, congenital and traumatic cataracts. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the visual acuities with spherical correction or without correction were 0.5 or better in 90.0% of the eyes at one day, and 1.0 or better in 42.5%, 63.7% and 68.0% at one week, one month and three months respectively. The mean postoperative astigmatism was (1.00 +/- 0.68) D at one week and only 0.07D more than the mean preoperative one (P > 0.05). There was also no statistical difference between the mean preoperative astigmatism and postoperative astigmatism at one and three months, which were respectively (0.91 +/- 0.55) D and (0.83 +/- 0.57) D. The mean postoperative astigmatism was almost the same as compared between the scleral tunnel incision and clear corneal incision groups. CONCLUSION: The phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a limbus tunnel incision can reduce postoperative astigmatism and shorten the period of visual rehabilitation as the operation through a scleral tunnel or a clear corneal incision, and in the mean time the former method can overcome the shortages of the latter two methods.