International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Dr. Unnati Vishwanath Shukla, Dr. Vineet Shukla, Dr. Devdatta J Gohel

Abstract
Purpose: To determine the astigmatism outcomes after cataract surgery performed using clear corneal incisions. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Guru Gobindsingh Government Hospital, Jamnagar. Methods: This prospective study includes 25 patients undergoing phacoemulsification with implantation of foldable acrylic intraocular lens through a corneal tunnel incision between 2016-2017. Clear corneal incision was made in all the patients. Astigmatism was measured by keratometry readings before surgery and 5rd, 15th, and 45th days postoperatively. Results: The results of our study are as follows- most of the patients of our study were between the age group of 41-70 years. Females (56%) outnumbered males (44%) in our study. Majority of the patients (56%) had preoperative astigmatism of 0.50D. Majority of the patients (48%) undergoing phacoemulsification through clear corneal incision had astigmatism of 0.6-1.5D on day 5 postoperatively. On day 15 postoperatively 36% of the operated patients had astigmatism between 0.6-1.0 D which further increased to 44% on day 45 postoperatively. The mean astigmatism was 2.31D, 1.99D and 1.55D on 5, 15 and 45 postoperative day. Mean postoperative astigmatism regressed from 5^th to 45^th postoperative days by 0.75D. Majority (80%) of patients had BCVA of 6/9-6/12. The incidence of against the rule astigmatism was more (56%) in patients undergoing phacoemulsification in which clear corneal incision was made. Conclusions - Cataract surgery using superotemporal clear corneal incision induced significantly less surgically induced astigmatism in the early postoperative period.