Effect of cataract surgery incision on original corneal astigmatism

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of the combination surgery including routine cataract surgery and limbal relaxing incisions to correct the pre-existing astigmatism.MethodsThirty patients with pre-existing astigmatism,whose pre-existing astigmatism was greater than 1.00D,were divided into group A(≥2.00 D,13 eyes)and group B(2.00 D,24 eyes).All eyes were treated with the small-incision routine cataract surgery combined with intraocular lens implantation at the most dioptric strength meridians.Then a penetratical 4.0mm incision was made at the opposite side of former incision in each eye of group A.Preoperative and postoperative visual acuities,corneal refractions at 1 week,1 month and 3 months were recorded,and the changes of corneal astigmatism and visual acuities between the two groups were compared.ResultsAt postoperative 1 week,1 month and 3 months,average visual acuities were 0.57±0.07,0.67±0.07 and 0.67±0.06 in group A,0.52±0.07,0.56±0.06 and 0.59±0.06 in group B.Group A had better visual acuity than group B in each time point.In group A,the preoperative average astigmatism degree was(3.06±0.89)D;The postoperative average astigmatism degree were(1.58±0.18)D,(1.18±0.17)D,(1.03±0.22)D at 1 week,1 month and 3 months,respectively.There were statistical differences with astigmatism degree between pre-operation and post-operation(all P0.05).In group B,the preoperative average astigmatism degree was(1.69±0.17)D;The postoperative average astigmatism degree were(0.67±0.04)D,(0.47±0.05)D,(0.26±0.13)D at 1 week,1 month and 3 months,respectively.There were statistical differences(all P0.05).At the postoperative 3 months,the surgical correction amount of astigmatisin of group A and B were(2.08±0.08)D and(1.42±0.02)D.The amount of surgical correction of astigmatism between the two groups was statistically significant(P0.05).ConclusionSmall incision routine cataract surgery combined with limbal corneal relaxing incision can correct pre-existing astigmatism largely and reduce patient discomfort from astigmatism and improve visual acuity.