To Compare Keratometry Astigmatism From Temporal And Superior Corneal Incisions During Phacoemulsification

• Original Article | Vol No.5 | Issue No. 1

Abstract

Objective: To examine the average change in keratometry’s medically produced astigmatism between lateral and phacoemulsification corneal incisions.

Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Duration and place of study: Department of Ophthalmology, Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Sciences HMC, Peshawar. From 20-07- 2020 to 21-01-2021.

Materials and Methods: A random allocation process divided 140 cataract patients into two groups. Phacoemulsification was performed using a superior corneal incision in group A and a temporal incision in group B. Baseline and follow-up keratometry readings were used to compute the average astigmatism change.

Results: Patient age averaged 49.6 + 5.3 years throughout the research group. Group B patients averaged 50.4 + 4.9 years old (p 0.04), whereas group A patients averaged 48.9 + 5.8 years. Group A included 82.9% males and 17.1% women, whereas group B had 74.3% men and 25.7% women (p 0.217). Group A’s mean BMI was 24.9 + 3.8 kg/m2, whereas Group B’s was 25.2 + 3.7. A and B had mean baseline BCVAs of 0.8 + 0.2 and 0.8 + 0.2, respectively (p 0.858). Keratometry showed group A’s mean baseline astigmatism was 0.2 + 0.06D and group B’s 0.1 + 0.07 (p 0.614). Keratometry showed that group A’s mean follow-up astigmatism was 1.2 + 0.2D and group B’s 1.1 + 0.2 (p 0.836). According to keratometry, group A’s astigmatism changed by 1.0 + 0.17D and group B’s by 1.0 + 0.2 (p 0.707).

Conclusion: We found no statistically significant difference in mean astigmatism before and after phacoemulsification in corneal vs temporal incision groups. Our study had a limited sample size and did not account for effect modifiers, thus we urge additional studies with higher sample sizes and accounting for confounders that may affect patients’ medically induced astigmatism after phacoemulsification