Effect of Incision Length on Visual Recovery and Astigmatism in No-Suture Cataract Surgery

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of incision length on visual recovery and astigmatism in sutureless cataract surgery, three different lengths of incision were applied to 69 eyes. Soft intraocular lens (IOL) was inserted through 4mm incision in group 1 (16 eyes), ovoid polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)IOL was inserted through 5mm incision in group 2 (31 eyes), and 7mm optic sized PMMA IOL was inserted through 7mm incision in group 3 (22 eyes). Average uncorrected visual acuity was 0.69, 0.52 and 0.57 at one week and 0.79, 0.68 and 0.66 at eight weeks in the group 1, group 2, and group 3 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (p>0.05). Keratometric astigmatism was 0.26 diopter (D), - O.1OD and -O.12D in the group 1, group 2, and group 3 respectively. There was no statistically significnt difference among the three groups (p>0.05). Keratometric astigmatism was 0.26 diopter (D), -O.1OD and O.12D in the group 1, group 2, and group 3 respectively at one week postoperatively. The change of mean keratometric astigmatism from 1 to 8 weeks postoperatively was 0.73D in group 1 ,0.60D in group 2 and 0.79D in group 3 and there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (p>0.05). As postoperative problems, microleakage of aqueous humor at incision site and cystoid macular edema were shown in 6% of the group 1. Microhyphema was shown in 6% of group 1, 6% of group 2 and 18% of group 3 at one day postoperatively. Early clinical observations indicate that sutureless cataract surgery shows early visual recovery and minimizes surgically induced astigmatism without serious complications, regardless of length of incision.