Two year follow-up of astigmatism after phacoemulsification with adjusted and unadjusted sutured versus sutureless 5.2 mm superior scleral incisions

Femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy at the time of cataract surgery for the management of preexisting astigmatism

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy combined with cataract surgery in eyes with low-to-moderate corneal astigmatism.

SETTING

Eyes of York Private Practice Ophthalmology Clinic, York, Pennsylvania, USA.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included case records of patients with preexisting corneal astigmatism ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 diopter (D). Study parameters included corneal astigmatism, refractive astigmatism, and uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities. The results, which were analyzed at 3 months postoperatively, included frequency distribution histograms, vector analysis, and single-angle polar plots.

RESULTS

The study comprised case records of 189 eyes of 143 patients (56 men and 87 women). The postoperative refractive astigmatism was reduced significantly compared with preoperative corneal astigmatism to 0.14 D ± 0.23 (SD) from 0.92 ± 0.34 D (P < .001). One hundred eighty-one eyes (95.8%) demonstrated postoperative refractive astigmatism of 0.5 D or less. The mean surgically induced change along the preoperative steep axis was -0.59 ± 0.56 D, and the change along the orthogonal axis was 0.01 ± 0.35 D. Postoperatively, 171 eyes (90.5%) had astigmatism angle of error of 15 degrees or less. The postoperative mean UDVA and CDVA were 0.09 ± 0.16 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and 0.02 ± 0.05 logMAR, respectively. One hundred seventy eyes (90%) had a postoperative UDVA of 20/30 or better. The results demonstrated stability at 12 months postoperatively. No intraoperative or postoperative arcuate keratotomy-related events were observed.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy represents a safe and effective method for astigmatism correction at the time of cataract surgery with demonstrated stability of correction for at least 1 year postoperatively.

Consensus on the management of astigmatism in cataract surgery

This project was aimed at achieving consensus on the management of astigmatism during cataract surgery by ophthalmologists from Latin America using modified Delphi technique. Relevant peer-reviewed literature was identified, and 21 clinical research questions associated with the definition, classification, measurement, and treatment of astigmatism during cataract surgery were formulated. Twenty participants were divided into seven groups, and each group was assigned three questions to which they had to respond in written form, after thoroughly reviewing the literature. The assigned questions with corresponding responses by each group were discussed with other participants in round 4 – presentation of findings. The consensus was achieved if approval was obtained from at least 80% of participants. The present paper provides several agreements and recommendations for management of astigmatism during cataract surgery, which could potentially minimize the variability in practice patterns and help ophthalmologists adopt optimal practices for cataract patients with astigmatism and improve patient satisfaction.

Toric intraocular lenses: historical overview, patient selection, IOL calculation, surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, and complications

We present an overview of currently available toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) and multifocal toric IOLs. Relevant patient selection criteria, IOL calculation issues, and surgical techniques for IOL implantation are discussed. Clinical outcomes including uncorrected visual acuity, residual refractive astigmatism, and spectacle independency, which have been reported for both toric IOLs and multifocal toric IOLs, are reviewed. The incidence of misalignment, the most important complication of toric IOLs, is determined. Finally, future developments in the field of toric IOLs are discussed.

The effect of incisions for cataract on corneal curvature

PURPOSE

To determine the magnitude and duration of change on the horizontal and vertical meridians of the cornea after five different incisions for cataract.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative interventional study of five commonly used incisions for cataract surgery: extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), 6-mm superior scleral tunnel (6Sup), 3-mm superior scleral tunnel (3Sup), 3-mm temporal scleral tunnel (3Temp), and 3-mm temporal corneal incision (3Cor).

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 662 cases with preoperative regular astigmatism, measured with keratometry.

METHODS

The mean net change on each meridian was computed at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 1.5 months, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months and at succeeding 6-month intervals after surgery. Best-fit parameters were calculated for the observed changes in the horizontal and vertical keratometry values after each incision. To determine when the cornea stabilized, average change on the horizontal and vertical meridians was compared with an estimate of the accuracy of keratometry measurement.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The pattern of change on the horizontal and vertical meridians and time for the cornea to stabilize after each incision.

RESULTS

The initial and final net changes after a superior incision decrease with length. A sigmoid equation describes the course of the changes on the horizontal and vertical meridians after the superior incisions. The changes after the temporal incisions depend linearly on time after surgery. Considering the uncertainty of keratometry, the corneal meridians stabilized 4.5 months after ECCE, 1.2 months after 6Sup, and 0.3 months after 3Sup. No significant change was detected on the horizontal and vertical meridians after 3Temp and 3Cor.

CONCLUSIONS

The magnitude and the duration of keratometric change on the horizontal and vertical meridians of the cornea depend on the length and location of the incision. Within the limits of measurement error, no significant change in corneal curvature was detected after either small temporal incision.

One year follow-up of astigmatism after 4.0 mm temporal clear corneal and superior scleral incisions

PURPOSE

To compare the effect of 2 contemporary sutureless cataract surgery incisions on corneal astigmatism 1 year after surgery.

SETTING

Outpatient Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Vejle Hospital, Denmark.

METHODS

Sixty-nine patients who had cataract surgery in 1997 with a 4.0 mm temporal clear corneal (n = 32) or superior scleral (n = 37) incision were examined 1 year postoperatively. Surgically induced astigmatism was analyzed by vector analysis, vector decomposition, and polar values using preoperative and postoperative keratometric readings.

RESULTS

Vector analysis revealed a slightly lower median induced cylinder in the clear corneal patients; 0.41 diopter (D) (95% confidence limits [CL] 0.24 to 0.67 D) versus 0.61 D (95% CL 0.49 to 0.73 D) (P < .05). Decomposition of the induced cylinder (against the rule/total) showed statistically significant differences in the direction of the cylinder; 0.21 (95% CL 0.03 to 0.41) versus 0.90 (95% CL 0.82 to 0.95) (P < .00001). The directional difference was confirmed by polar values.

CONCLUSION

Both incisions induced low and comparable amounts of astigmatism. The directional differences were modest. Findings in previous studies of a poor outcome after clear corneal incisions were not confirmed in this long-term follow-up.