The Change of Corneal Astigmatism after Extracapsular CataractExtraction with 7 mmScleral Tunnel Incision

ABSTRACT

In recent days, cataract surgery has trend to reduce postoperative astig-matism and acquired early visual rehabilitation.Phacoemulsification with small incision and insertion of foldable intraocular lens has been used popularly, but its high cost and intraoperative or postoperative complication especially in old age with dense nucleosclerosis could be detrimental to patients. Postoperative corneal astigmatic changes and visual rehabilitation were evaluated after extracapsular cataract extraction with 7 mmscleral tunnel incision (Group I, 7 mm-ECCE, 28 eyes)by comparing with those after phacoemulsification with 3.5 mmscleral tunnel incision (Group II, 3.5 mm-Phaco, 41eyes).One piece PMMA intraocular lens was inserted in group I, while foldable intraocular lens in group II.Surgically induced corneal astigmatism was calculated by Cravy's vector analysis.There was no statistically signifi-cant difference between group I and group IIfor surgically induced corneal astigmatism (Kt)after postoperative one month (p>0.05).In group I and group II, corneal astigmatism was with-the-rule in early postoperative days, and changed to against-the-rule in postoperative 3 months.There was no statistically significant difference between group I and group IIincorneal astigmatism during all follow-up period (p>0.05). Therefore, 7 mm-ECCE could be an effective method for old patient with high grade nucleosclerosis or when phacoemulsification was unavailable.