Implanting toric implantable collamer lens displays better astigmatism correction than implantable collamer lens combined with manually limbal relaxing incision.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to compare the outcomes of toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) surgery with those of implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation combined with limbal relaxing incision (LRI) in patients with low myopia and astigmatism. METHODS: A total of 40 eyes of 28 patients who underwent TICL implantation and 40 eyes of 27 patients who underwent ICL implantation combined with manually LRI between 2021 and 2022 were included. Primary outcomes were manifest sphere and cylinder, intraocular pressure, visual acuity, and astigmatism parameters at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The two surgeries showed comparable effects on manifest sphere and cylinder, intraocular pressure, and visual acuity (all p > 0.1). Surgery-induced astigmatism (SIA) was maintained as stable in the TICL group (1.73 to 1.68, p = 0.420), but was significantly reduced in the ICL/LRI group (1.74 to 1.17, p = 0.001) from preoperative to postoperative 6 months. The TICL group displayed significantly higher SIA and correction index at postoperative 1, 3, and 6 months than the ICL/LRI group (at 6 months: SIA, 1.68 (1.26, 1.96) vs., 1.17 (1.00, 1.64), p = 0.010; CI: 0.98 (0.78, 1.25) vs. 0.80 (0.61, 1.04), p = 0.018). No complications occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of ICL/LRI are comparable to those of TICL in correcting myopia. TICL implantation displays better astigmatism correction than ICL/LRI.

Cataract surgery astigmatism incisional management. Manual relaxing incision versus femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy. A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to compare corneal astigmatism correction in cataract surgery through corneal relaxing incision, manually and femtosecond laser assisted. METHODS: The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement recommendations. We used PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) as databases from January 2010 to March 30, 2021. Patients with keratoconus, corneal ectasia, and a previous history of eye surgery were excluded because our aim was to analyze only healthy eyes. RESULTS: A total of 1025 eyes were evaluated from 946 patients (mean age was 68.90 ± 5.12) in manual incision group articles, while 1905 eyes of 1483 patients (mean age was 65.05 ± 4.57) were evaluated in femtosecond laser arcuate keratotomy (FLAK) articles. The mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.19 ± 0.12 and 0.15 ± 0.05 logMAR for manual incision and FLAK articles, respectively (p = 0.39). The mean correction index (CI) was similar in both groups: 0.77 ± 0.18 in manual incision and 0.79 ± 0.17 in femtosecond laser assisted incision (p = 0.70). Refractive stability was found after 3 months and no serious complications were reported during the follow-up in any group. CONCLUSION: Both techniques are safe and moderately effective in corneal astigmatism correction in cataract surgery. FLAK represents a more precise and predictable approach. However, since visual and refractive outcomes appear to be similar in both cases, the cost-benefit analysis is controversial.

Two-year outcomes after full-thickness astigmatic keratotomy combined with small-incision lenticule extraction for high astigmatism.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate clinical outcomes after full-thickness astigmatic keratotomy (FTAK) combined with small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in eyes with high astigmatism. METHODS: This study comprised 75 eyes of 43 patients with over 4.0 diopters (D) of astigmatism who were treated with SMILE after FTAK. Visual acuities and refractive measurements were evaluated at 1 month after FTAK, and 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after SMILE. Vector analysis of the astigmatic changes was performed using the Alpins method. RESULTS: Twenty-four months after the combined procedure, the average spherical equivalent was reduced from - 6.56 ± 2.38 D to - 0.36 ± 0.42 D (p < 0.001). The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities improved from 1.54 ± 5.53 to - 0.02 ± 0.09 and from - 0.03 ± 0.07 D to - 0.07 ± 0.08 D (both p < 0.001), respectively. The preoperative mean astigmatism was - 5.48 ± 1.17 D, which was reduced to - 2.27 ± 0.97 D and - 0.34 ± 0.26 D at 1 month after FTAK and 24 months after SMILE, respectively (p < 0.001). The surgically-induced astigmatism after FTAK, SMILE, and FTAK and SMILE combined was 3.38 ± 1.18 D, 2.22 ± 0.84 D, and 5.39 ± 1.20 D, respectively. Furthermore, the correction index of FTAK, SMILE, and FTAK and SMILE combined was 0.63 ± 0.17, 0.90 ± 0.40, and 0.98 ± 0.06, respectively. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Our surgical procedure combining FTAK and SMILE showed good and stable clinical outcomes during two-year follow-up for the treatment of high astigmatism.

Comparison of Efficacies in Treating Astigmatism between Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation and Limbal Relaxing Incision

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and monofocal IOL implantation with a limbal relaxing incision (LRI) for correcting astigmatism in the Korean population. METHODS: The medical records of 79 patients (100 eyes) with corneal astigmatism over 1.25 diopters (D) who underwent toric IOL implantation (toric group; 54 eyes), monofocal IOL implantation with a concurrent LRI (LRI group; 24 eyes), or monofocal IOL implantation without correcting astigmatism (control group; 22 eyes), were retrospectively reviewed. For subgroup analyses, the three groups were subdivided according to preoperative astigmatic severity under 2.5 D. Visual, refractive, and keratometric outcomes were compared 2 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The uncorrected distance visual acuity was at least 20/25 (0.1 logMAR) in 64.8%, 41.7%, and 27.3% of the toric, LRI, and control group eyes, respectively at 2 months after surgery. The toric group had the greatest refractive cylindrical error change (toric group, −2.48 ± 1.84 D to −0.98 ± 0.92 D; LRI group, −2.02 ± 1.03 D to −1.65 ± 0.86 D; control group, −1.69 ± 0.88 D to −1.49 ± 0.60 D; p < 0.001) and the LRI group showed the greatest mean corneal cylindrical error change (toric group, 2.40 ± 1.33 D to 2.23 ± 1.42 D; LRI group, 1.86 ± 0.44 D to 1.29 ± 0.55 D; control group, 1.60 ± 0.39 D to 1.35 ± 0.60 D; p = 0.025). The 85 eyes with moderate corneal astigmatism (between 1.25 D and 2.5 D) were under evaluation. The toric group showed the highest mean refractive cylindrical change (0.97 ± 0.66 D; p < 0.001), followed by the LRI group (0.53 ± 0.87 D; p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical techniques significantly reduced astigmatism and had comparable visual outcomes. Toric IOL implantation was more reliable for correcting astigmatism than monofocal IOL implantation with a concurrent LRI regardless of the preoperative astigmatic severity. Both procedures were effective in reducing astigmatism in eyes with moderate corneal astigmatism.

Three Methods for Correction of Astigmatism during Phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of three methods for correcting pre-existing astigmatism during phacoemulsification. METHODS: This prospective, comparative, non-randomized study was conducted from March 2010 to January 2011, and included patients with keratometric astigmatism ≥1.25 D undergoing cataract surgery. Astigmatism was corrected using the following approaches: limbal relaxing incisions (LRI) on the steep meridian, extension and suturing of the phaco incision created at the steep meridian (extended-on-axis incision, EOAI), and toric intraocular lens (tIOL) implantation. Keratometric and refractive astigmatism were evaluated 1, 8, and 24 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Eighty-three eyes of 72 patients (35 male and 37 female) with mean age of 62.4 ± 14.3 (range, 41-86) years were enrolled. The astigmatism was corrected by using the LRI, EOAI and tIOL implantation methods in 17, 33 and 33 eyes, respectively. Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was significantly improved in all three groups. The difference in postoperative UDVA was not statistically significant among the study groups throughout follow-up except at week 24, when UCVA was significantly better in the tIOL group as compared to the EOAI group (P = 0.024). There is no statistically significant difference of correction index and index of success between three groups at week 24 (P = 0.085 and P = 0.085 respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in astigmatism reduction among the three methods of astigmatism correction during phacoemulsification. Each of these methods can be used at the discretion of the surgeon.

Use of a Toric Intraocular Lens and a Limbal-Relaxing Incision for the Management of Astigmatism in Combined Glaucoma and Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: We report the surgical management of a patient with glaucoma undergoing cataract surgery with high preexisting astigmatism. A combination of techniques was employed for her astigmatism management. METHODS: A 76-year-old female with 5.5 dpt of corneal astigmatism underwent surgery in her left eye consisting of one-site trabeculectomy, phacoemulsification, toric intraocular lens implantation and a single inferior limbal-relaxing incision. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure control was achieved with no medication at 11 mm Hg; before the filtering procedure, the pressure was 16 mm Hg on two topical drugs. Astigmatism was reduced to 0.75 dpt, and both corrected and uncorrected visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: Astigmatism management can have a good outcome in combined procedures. We encourage surgeons to address astigmatism in the preoperative planning of patients undergoing glaucoma surgery associated with phacoemulsification.

Influence of phacoemulsification combined with limbal relaxing incisions for preoperative astigmatism on corneal high-order aberrations / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background phacoemulsification combined with limbal relaxing incision (LRI) is reported to be effective for the management of coexisting cataract astigmatism,but the influence of after phacoemulsification with LRI on corneal high-order aberration is still rarely reported.Objective This study was to evaluate the effect of cataract surgery with LRI for preoperative astigmatism or on corneal high-order aberration.Methods A selfcontrolled serial cases observational study was designed.A total of 35 cataractous eyes of 35 patients with astigmatism ≥ 1.0 D before cataract surgery were enrolled in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from August 2014 to April 2015 under the informed consent of patients.LRIs were performed on the eyes during the phacoemulsification and IOL implantation.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),BCVA and optometry were recorded before operation and 1 day,1 week,1 month,3 months after operation.Pentacam was employed to measure the maximal and minimal diopters,astigmatism and high-order aberrations within 3 mm of the anterior corneal surface at above-mentioned time points.All the results were compared among different time points.The optometry outcomes and the anterior corneal surface astigmatism change were analyzed using vector analysis method.Results The UCVA was 0.34 ±0.22,0.38 ± 0.25,0.43±0.27,0.42±0.28 in 1 day,1 week,1 month and 3 months after operation,which was significantly higher than 0.08 ±0.09 before operation;and the BCVA was 0.54 ± 0.27,0.64 ± 0.29,0.67 ± 0.29,0.71 ± 0.32 in 1 day,1 week,1 month and 3 months after operation,showing a significant increase in comparison with 0.22±0.51 before operation(F=54.457,P=0.000;F =62.653,P =0.000).The refractive cylindrical error and corneal astigmatism were significantly decreased after operation in comparison with before operation (F =31.061,P =0.000;F =113.043,P=0.000).High order aberrations (HOA) at postoperative 1 day,1 week,1 month,3 months were all higher than those in preoperation (F =11.189,P =0.000) under the 4 mm pupil diameter.Compared with preoperation,the vertical coma,secondary vertical coma and three leaf clover were significantly increased(all at P＜0.05),but the horizontal coma and primary spherical aberration were not significantly changed (all at P＞0.05) under the 6 mm pupil diameter.Conclusions Phacoemulsification combined with LRI can reduce the corneal astigmatism effectively and steadily,and the increase of corneal aberrations does not affect visual acuity.

Clinical research of limbal relaxing incision during implantable collamer lens surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of limbal relaxing incision ( LRl) for correcting corneal astigmatism during implantable collamer lens ( lCL) surgery.METHODS:A total of 185 eyes of 105 patients with high myopia and corneal keratometric astigmatism were included in the study. lCL surgery with concomitant relaxing incision was performed in 105 eyes of 60 patients in LRls group ( Group A) . Eighty eyes of 45 patients only underwent lCL surgery were in control group ( Group B) . All patients undergone ophthalmic examination that included uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA ) , best -corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) , Pentacam analysis system to observe the changes of corneal astigmatism before and 1wk, 1 and 3mo after surgery.RESULTS: Respectively comparing UCVA between two groups in 1 and 3mo postoperatively, the P values were considered statistically significant ( P 0. 05 ). Preoperative corneal astigmatism was 1. 52 ± 0. 55D in group A and 1. 48 ± 0. 57D in group B, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0. 05). One week postoperatively, the astigmatism was 0. 55 ± 0. 41D in group A and 1. 20 ± 0. 48D in group B. One month postoperatively, the astigmatism was 0. 60 ± 0. 38D in group A and 0. 93 ± 0. 47D. Three months postoperatively, the astigmatism was 0. 51 ± 0. 32D in group A and 0. 96 ± 0. 40D in group B. The difference between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0. 05 ). The difference value of corned astigmatism before surgery and 1wk, 1 and 3mo after surgery had statistical significance ( P<0. 05). ln LRls group, at preoperative and postoperative time points, the average corneal astigmatism changes were also considered statistically significant difference (P<0. 05). CONCLUSlON: LRls performed during lCL surgery appeared to be an effective and safer procedure to reduce pre-existing corneal astigmatism and improve UCVA as well as the visual quality.

High-cylinder toric intraocular lens implantation versus combined surgery of low-cylinder intraocular lens implantation and limbal relaxing incision for high-astigmatism eyes.

Clinical outcomes were compared between high-cylinder toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and the combined surgery of low-cylinder toric IOL implantation and limbal relaxing incision (LRI) for correcting preexisting high-amplitude corneal astigmatism. Fifty-seven eyes with preexisting corneal astigmatism of 2.5 diopter (D) or greater were divided into the following two groups: (1) eyes that underwent Alcon AcrySof® IQ Toric T6, T7, T8, or T9 IOL implantation (toric group); and (2) eyes that underwent the combined surgery of AcrySof® IQ Toric T5 IOL implantation and LRI (LRI group). Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest, refractive and corneal cylinder (MC, RC, CC), were compared postoperatively. Corneal and ocular higher-order aberrations (HOA) were also compared. At 1 day postoperative, UCVA was significantly better and MC and RC were significantly less in the toric group, however, at 1 and 6 months postoperative, there was no significant difference in those parameters. Postoperative corneal and ocular HOA were significantly greater in the LRI Group. For correcting astigmatism in eyes with a high amount of preexisting astigmatism, high-cylinder toric IOL implantation achieves better clinical outcomes, especially in the early postoperative period, than the combined procedure of moderate-cylinder toric IOL implantation and LRI.

The Short-Term Effect of Limbal Relaxing Incision and Compression Suture on Post-Penetrating Keratoplasty Astigmatism

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term effect of limbal relaxing incisions accompanied by compression sutures on postoperative astigmatism in penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty, were followed-up for at least 18 months and had residual astigmatism greater than 4.0 diopters (D), were retrospectively analyzed. The patients had paired limbal relaxing incisions on the steep axis and compression sutures on the flat axis. The paired limbal relaxing incision was done for 2 clock hours each with a depth of 85% of the corneal thickness, and the compression sutures with an average of 3.2 bites were added with a Troutman operating keratometer guide. The visual acuities, corneal astigmatism and complications were evaluated at 1 month and 6 months. RESULTS: At 1 month after the surgery, the best corrected visual acuities (log MAR) improved from 0.840 to 0.674 (p = 0.037) except for 1 patient with immediate postoperative rejection and another patient with a pre-existing cataract. The mean corneal astigmatism was reduced from 9.118 +/- 3.158 D to 4.982 +/- 3.063 D (p = 0.021). At 6 months after the surgery, the mean corneal astigmatism increased to 5.489 +/- 2.670 D (p = 0.008), and the effect of surgery became statistically insignificant (p = 0.477). CONCLUSIONS: Paired limbal relaxing incisions and compression sutures were effective short-term on reducing residual corneal astigmatism and improving visual acuities in keratoplasty patients with high astigmatism, but became less effective on corneal astigmatism at 6 months.

The short term effects of a single limbal relaxing incision combined with clear corneal incision.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of performing a single limbal relaxing incision (LRI) combined with a clear corneal incision on a corneal astigmatism with that of paired LRIs in cataract surgery. METHODS: Medical records for 25 eyes in 20 patients who had undergone LRIs during cataract operations for with-the-rule astigmatism of 1.5 diopters (D) or more in topography were retrospectively reviewed. Single or paired LRIs were assigned randomly and were performed on the steepest axis; the degrees of arc were determined using the modified Gills nomogram. A clear corneal wound was made on the steepest vertical axis. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, and corneal astigmatism on topography were evaluated preoperatively and one month postoperatively. Naeser's polar value analysis was used to assess the efficacy of the LRIs. RESULTS: The mean depth of the LRIs and degrees of arc were 620+/-31 microm (87.1% of corneal thickness) and 56.84+/-19.68 degrees , respectively. The mean postoperative UCVA and BCVA (log MAR) were significantly improved (0.51+/-0.37 and 0.09+/-0.12, respectively) (p<0.05). Average refractive and corneal astigmatisms were significantly reduced by 49.4 percent and 32.4 percent, respectively (p<0.05). The single LRI combined with clear corneal incision showed reduced efficacy in refractive astigmatism by 47 percent, which is similar to that of paired LRIs where a 48 percent reduction in efficacy was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term effects of a single LRI combined with clear corneal incision on a corneal astigmatism appears to be as effective as performing paired LRIs when combined with cataract incision.

The Short Term Effects of a Single Limbal Relaxing Incision Combined with Clear Corneal Incision

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of performing a single limbal relaxing incision (LRI) combined with a clear corneal incision on a corneal astigmatism with that of paired LRIs in cataract surgery. METHODS: Medical records for 25 eyes in 20 patients who had undergone LRIs during cataract operations for with-the-rule astigmatism of 1.5 diopters (D) or more in topography were retrospectively reviewed. Single or paired LRIs were assigned randomly and were performed on the steepest axis; the degrees of arc were determined using the modified Gills nomogram. A clear corneal wound was made on the steepest vertical axis. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, and corneal astigmatism on topography were evaluated preoperatively and one month postoperatively. Naeser's polar value analysis was used to assess the efficacy of the LRIs. RESULTS: The mean depth of the LRIs and degrees of arc were 620+/-31 micrometer (87.1% of corneal thickness) and 56.84+/-19.68degrees, respectively. The mean postoperative UCVA and BCVA (log MAR) were significantly improved (0.51+/-0.37 and 0.09+/-0.12, respectively) (p<0.05). Average refractive and corneal astigmatisms were significantly reduced by 49.4 percent and 32.4 percent, respectively (p<0.05). The single LRI combined with clear corneal incision showed reduced efficacy in refractive astigmatism by 47 percent, which is similar to that of paired LRIs where a 48 percent reduction in efficacy was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term effects of a single LRI combined with clear corneal incision on a corneal astigmatism appears to be as effective as performing paired LRIs when combined with cataract incision.

Limbal Relaxing Incision Combined with Cataract Surgery Reducing Preoperative Corneal Astigmatism

PURPOSE: Corneal astigmatic correction is necessary to improve best uncorrected visual acuity (BUVA) after cataract extraction. The purpose of the study is to know the effect and safety of limbal relaxing incision combined with cataract extraction to reduce preoperative astigmatism in patients whose corneal astigmatism was 1.0 diopter or more. METHODS: Eighten eyes from 16 patients had cataract with corneal astigmatism 1.0 diopter or more. We checked preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), autokeratometry, manifest refraction, corneal topography and so on. We phacoemulsified and inserted intraocular lens in the bag. After that, we made limbal relaxing incision at the previously-determined axis with previously-determined length and depth. We followed up them with autokeratometry, manifest refraction and corneal topography at 1week, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement of final UCVA transformed by log MAR (minimum angle of resolution) compared with preoperative UCVA. According the analysis of autokeratometric astigmatism with Naeser's polar value concept, astigmatic polar value (AKP) was 1.37+/-0.53 diopter before surgery, .0.17+/-0.30 diopter at 1week after surgery, .0.07+/-0.36 diopter at 4weeks, .0.13+/-0.30 diopter at 8weeks, .0.07+/-0.38 diopter at 12weeks. Over the whole follow-up period, there was a statistically significant decrease of AKP compared with preoperative one (p=0, 0, 0, 0.001). There was also a statistically significant decrease of AKP measured by manifest refraction compared with preoperative ones (p=0.007, 0.001, 0.002, 0.015). There was a statistically significant decrease of AKP checked by corneal topography compared with preoperative ones (p=0.001, 0, 0, 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks follow up after cataract extraction with limbal relaxing incision showed a statistically significant improvement of final UCVA compared with preoperative UCVA and reduction of preoperative astigmatism checked by autokeratometry, manifest refraction and corneal topography. Limbal relaxing incision combined with cataract extraction was an effective procedure to reduce preoperative astigmatism.