Comparative study of surgically induced astigmatism following small incision cataract surgery with incision placed in superior and temporal meridian

Abstract

Cataract surgery now a days has become a refractive surgery. It not only improves the vision, but also provides good unaided visual acuity(VA). Sutureless small incision cataract surgery(SICS) induces minimum astigmatism. It also helps in early rehabilitation by faster stabilisation of post-operative refraction.The aim of this prospective observational study was to compare the Surgery induced astigmatism(SIA) and VA following manual SICS with superior and temporal incisions.Consecutive 100 patients in the age group of 40 -70 years with cataract having VA<6/18, having no ocular comorbidities were included in the study. After proper evaluation, 50 patients underwent manual SICS with superior scleral incision and rest 50 with temporal incision. Post operative astigmatism was measured at 4 and 8th weeks. Best corrected VA was checked at 8 week. SIA was calculated at 4 and 8 week post operatively.The statistical analysis was done with the help of SPSS 18 statistical analysis software, measuring p value, mean and standard deviation.The mean SIA in superior and temporal SICS at 4 week was 1.06+/-0.41 DCyl and 0.75+/-0.36 DCyl respectively (p=0.000) and at 8week was 0.99+/-0.31 DCyl and 0.64+/- 0.32 DCyl respectively (p=0.000). The difference of SIA at 4 and 8 week in both the techniques was statistically insignificant.41 patients with superior incision and 43 patients with temporal incision had VA of 6/6 at 8 post operative week.VA was 6/9 in 6 patients with superior incision and 3 patients with temporal incision. Whereas, VA was 6/12 in 3 patients with superior incision and 4 patients with temporal incision at 8 post operative week.VA at 8 post-operative week in both the techniques were comparable.SIA in temporal SICS is significantly lesser than that in superior SICS whereas VA in both the techniques is excellent and comparable.