[Phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation through a clear corneal incision].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a clear corneal incision. METHODS: The surgery was performed through a 3.2 mm clear corneal incision on 100 eyes of 90 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 93.0% of eyes at one day, and 1.0 or better in 56.0%, 65.1% and 67.5% at one week, one month and three months respectively. The mean postoperative astigmatism was 0.93 +/- 0.58 D at one week and 0.20 D more than the mean preoperative one (P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the mean preoperative astigmatism and postoperative astigmatism at one and three months which were respectively 0.78 +/- 0.60 D and 0.73 +/- 0.59 D. CONCLUSION: The phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a clear corneal incision can reduce early postoperative astigmatism, shorten the period of visual rehabilitation and simplify operative procedures.