Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Comparison of 2.4 mm and 2.8 mm Clear Corneal Incisions

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To compare clinical outcomes of cataract surgeries with 2.4 mm and 2.8 mm clear corneal incisions. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 2 groups of cataract surgery cases with different wound lenghts of group 1; 2.4 mm and group 2; 2.8 mm. We evaluated 80 eyes of 72 patients with 3-month follow-ups. Procedures carried out using the temporal self-sealing incision technique. Measured intraoperative parameters included phacoemulsification time, mean cumulative dissipated ultrasound energy and total volume of balanced salt solution used. Keratometric data, specular microscopy and macular thickness were evaluated preoperatively, and postoperative 1 and 3 months. Vector analysis calculated the surgically induced astigmatism. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in intraoperative ultrasound energy, total phacoemulsification time and volume of balanced salt solution analyzed between two groups (p>0.05). There were no statistically difference between two groups in macular thickness alteration and endothelial cell loss (ECL) (p>0.05). The mean surgically induced astigmatism was significantly less in group 1 in each visit (p<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification surgery through a 2.4 mm incision size appeared to be safe and less surgically induced astigmatism.

Keywords

• cataract surgery
• incision size
• surgically induced astigmatism
• endothelial cell loss
• macular thickness