SURGICALLY INDUCED ASTIGMATISM IN PHACOEMULSIFICATION IN PATIENTS WITH PSEUDOEXFOLIATIVE SYNDROME

Abstract

Introduction. Surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) is one of the reasons of the patient’s dissatisfaction with the refractive result after phacoemulsification (PHACO). The degree of SIA depends mainly on the type, length, shape and location of the tunnel, the distance to the optical center of the cornea, as well as the biomechanical properties of the cornea. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is associated with a change of the biomechanical properties of the cornea. The issue of the effect of these changes on the degree of SIA remains unexplored.The objectiveis to assess the influence of PEX on the degree of SIA after PHACO.Material and methods. The study included 42 patients (42 eyes) admitted for surgical treatment of cataracts to the V micro-surgical Department of the HMB № 2. The main group consisted of 20 patients (20 eyes) with PEX, the control group consisted of 22 patients (22 eyes) without PEX.The groups were of equal sex and age. The main selection criterion for the main group was the detection of pseudoexfoliative material on the anterior lens capsule, along the pupillary edge edge or in the corner of the anterior chamber. The exclusion criteria were the traumatic and uveal cataracts, glaucoma and laser vision correction in the anamnesis. All patients underwent keratotopography (TMS-3, Tomey, Japan) preoperatively and in 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.Results. There was no significant difference in the degree of SIA (limbal incision, 2.4 mm) among the groups provided the formation of a 2.4 mm limbal tunnel. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the degree of SIA between the nasal and temporal limbal tunnels within the groups.