Correlation between keratometry and corneal incision before and after phaco surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract is a common cause of vision loss and blindness in humans. After surgical management of cataract, all efforts should be focused on reducing postoperative astigmatism thus providing an excellent vision to patients.Aim: To determine the relationship between corneal incision and refraction changes before and after phacoemulsification surgery in 300 patients undergoing cataract surgery in Khatam hospital in Mashhad, Iran from January 2017 to April 2018.Materials and methods: Three hundred patients (144 women and 156 men) with cataract undergoing phacoemulsification surgery were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Refraction, keratometry and visual acuity measurement were performed before surgery. Then, a steep-based incision in the cornea was made without stitches. A 3.2 mm corneal incision was made at two supratemporal and temporal sites. The patients were followed-up for one and six months, and one year after surgery monitoring their vision and refraction, and performing keratometric measurements.Results: The mean age of the patients was 65.7±9.54 years (age range, 42–84 years). No major complications were observed. The greatest mean of changes in corneal power was in the supratemporal incision (1.28±0.6). Keratometry had a significant relation with the incision (p<0.04).Conclusions: An incision made along the steepest meridian leads to flatness of this meridian, this effect being more pronounced at the supratemporal incision. A temporal incision is recommended in cases where there is little difference in the keratometry of the two axes.

Keywords

• incision location
• keratometry
• phacoemulsificatio