[Clinical observation of astigmatism induced by corneal incision after phacoemulsification].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of astigmatism induced by corneal incision after phacoemulsification. METHODS: Phacoemulsification was performed on 62 cases (78 eyes) without suture for a corneal incision. The changes of corneal astigmatism before and after operation in group A (incision at the superior nasal or superior temporal) and B (incision at the steepest corneal meridian) were compared. RESULTS: Three months after the operation, the surgical induced astigmatism was (0.83 plus minus 0.65) D and (0.72 plus minus 0.55) D in group A and B respectively. There was no significant difference, statistically (P > 0.05). The changes of corneal astigmatism were 0.11 D and 0.39 D in group A and B respectively, the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surgically induced astigmatism is very small after a corneal incision in phacoemulsification without a suture. If the incision is placed on the steepest meridian, the corneal astigmatism can be significantly reduced postoperatively.