ASTIGMATISM;

MANAGEMENT OF PRE-EXISTING ASTIGMATISM WITH 3.2 MM CLEAR CORNEAL INCISION ON STEEPER AXIS DURING PHACOEMULSIFICATION CATARACT SURGERY

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the management of pre-existing astigmatism with 3.2 mm corneal incision on steeper axis during phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Study Design: Analytical study. Setting: Patients undergoing cataract surgery with phacoemulsification in K.D.A Teaching Hospital KMU-IMS Kohat. Period: January, 2016 to July, 2016. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with age related cataract were selected. Out of them 23 (46%) were male and 27 (54%) were female. All the patients were in age range from 49 to 76 years with mean age of 63.2% years. Proper examination with slit lamp was done. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Proper proforma was made for documentation. Biometry was done for IOL power. Preoperative keratometry was done with Topcon autoref-keratometer. Patients with traumatic eyes, previously operated eyes, vascularised and opacified cornea were excluded from the study. Pupils of patients were dilated properly with tropicamide eye drop.  Phacoemulsification with 3.2 mm clear corneal incision at steeper axis with intraocular lenses implantation was carried out on all patients by single surgeon under topical anesthesia. Postoperative keratometry was done on the same keratometer and observer to avoid bias at the end of two months. Results: Preoperative astigmatism was present in range of 0.12 diopter cylinder to 3.71 diopter cylinder with mean 1.56 diopter cylinder. At the end of two months mean astigmatism of 0.98 diopter cylinder with range 0.2 diopter cylinder to 2.0 diopter cylinder was noted postoperatively with mean reduction of 0.58 diopter cylinder. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification with 3.2 mm clear corneal incision at steeper axis can correct astigmatism significantly with good emmetropic results.