Outcomes of bimanual microincision cataract surgery and 2.2-mm coaxial phacoemulsification

Abstract

Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety outcomes of bimanual microincision cataract surgery (B-MICS) versus 2.2-mm coaxial phacoemulsification (C-MICS). Patients and methods This prospective, interventional, randomized, comparative clinical study was carried out on 60 cataractous eyes. Thirty patients were managed surgically by C-MICS through a 2.2 mm mean incision and 30 patients were managed surgically by B-MICS through a 1.2–1.4 mm trapezoidal incision. The main outcomes measures were postoperative best-corrected distant visual acuity, postoperative spherical equivalent, higher-order aberrations, corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL), and complications during and after surgery. Both groups were compared for all variables preoperatively. Results The visual rehabilitation in group B was faster than that in group A (nonsignificant). There were nonstatistically significant differences, in the best-corrected visual acuity, between both groups throughout the postoperative period. The mean ECL was statistically significantly higher in group A (221.2±44.1) compared with group B (167.5±67.9) (P Conclusion The two techniques are reliable, functional, effective, and yield good visual outcomes and low complication rates. B-MICS with the smallest incision induces less astigmatism (surgically induced astigmatism), less ECL, fewer central corneal thickness changes, and enables earlier visual rehabilitation.