Topographic Changes in Superior Corneal Incision versus Temporal Corneal Incision in Cataract Surgery: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure globally, impacting around 95 million individuals. Age-related degeneration and other eye and general disorders can affect patients' visual prognosis. Pentacam, a Scheimpflug imaging device, can help assess fully developed swollen cataracts and determine suitable surgical approaches. Current methods neglect posterior corneal astigmatism, leading to limited studies on posterior corneal shape changes after cataract surgery. Corneal topography and smaller incision sizes can help reduce SIA and improve refractive outcomes. The study aims to compare the topographic corneal changes after cataract surgery with superior versus temporal incision. The study involved 40 patients with age-related cataracts and corneal astigmatism who underwent phacoemulsification at a Benghazi teaching eye hospital. The procedure involved a main 2.6-mm clear corneal incision, paracentesis incision, and injection of DisCoVisc into the anterior chamber. The patients were divided into two groups based on the incision site. The study found no significant differences in preoperative biometrics, but there was a significant improvement in uncorrected visual acuity post-operatively in both superior and temporal incision groups. Corneal astigmatism also showed a significant increase in both groups. The mean visual acuity decreased slightly one month after surgery but stabilized at three months. Refractive measurements showed a slight improvement in the diopter sphere from preoperative to one month postoperative but no significant change. The study suggests the surgery had a significant impact on measurements taken, indicating a successful outcome. Superior incision placement and temporal incision selection can improve surgical outcomes and refractive outcomes in ICL surgery.