DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i03.101

Pages: 1316-1323

Cataract can be corrected by Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) as well as by Phacoemulsification. Instrumentation is very costly for phacoemulsification, hence many are preferring SICS but the drawback is astigmatism after SICS. This can be minimized by selecting the correct incision site during the surgery so as to minimize the incidence of astigmatism and for this a randomized control study was conducted with 100 patients and incisions for cataract surgery were made at different sites to find out a correct site to reduce the astigmatism in a very effective way. The patients were divided into 2 groups and Group I received superior incision and Group II a temporal incision. Preoperatively a complete ophthalmic examination including keratometry and ‘A’ scan biometry were done. Manual SICS with phacosandwich technique was used. Patients were examined on days 7, 30 and 45 after the surgery. Uncorrected and Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (UCVA and BCVA) and keratometry were recorded on each visit. Comparison of mean BCVA, one week after surgery of Group I (1.84 ±1.06) with that of Group II (1.12 ±0.33) showed statistical significance (p <0.001). Comparison of mean BCVA at 4 weeks after surgery of Group I (1.36 ±0.66) with that of Group II (1.12 ±0.33) also showed statistical significance (p <0.05). Hence it is concluded that temporal scleral incision produces lesser astigmatism compared to superior scleral incision in below 2.0 keratometric astigmatism and also an incision in the steeper meridian produces less astigmatism.