Comparison of the Corneal Astigmatism Between Suture Methods After 7mm Scleral Pocket Incision Catartact Surgery

ABSTRACT

Most of cataract surgeons have made a great effort to minimize or nullify corneal 'astigmatism resulted from the incision and closure, but a completely ideal wound system still eludes us. The scleral pocket incision and continuous single knotted shoelace suture of it has been known as one of the technique for reducing postoperative astigmatism. Recently, horizontal suture closure of scleral pocket incisior has been introduced because it doesn't cause suture induced wound compression. We implanted standard PMMA intraocular lenses in the bag of 400 patients through 7mm scleral pocket incision following CCC (continuous circular capsulorhexis) and bimanual phacoemulsification. The incision was closed with either the shoelace or horizontal suture. The keratometric measurement was maded at postoperative 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 2 month, 3 month and 6 month. In shoelace suture group, the preoperative corneal astigmatism appeared -0.14 +/- 0.15D of with the rule astigmatism (WTR); at one day postoperatively -2.75 +/- 1.61 of WTR, at 3 month 0.18 +/- 1.14D of against the rule astigmatism (ATR), 6 month 0.3 +/- 1.22D of ATR. In horizontal suture group, the preoperative corneal astigmatism appeared -0.22 +/- 1.22D of WTR; at one day postoperatively -1.05 +/- 1.28 of WTR, at 2 month 0.57 +/- 1.0 of ATR, at 6 month 0.72 +/- 1.91 of ATR. The difference between two suture methods was statistically significant (p<0.01 until 3 month, p<0.05 until 3-6 month).