To study the effect of limbal relaxing incision on pre existing astigmatism in SICS cataract surgery

Aim: To assess pre-existing astigmatism and to evaluate the effect of limbal relaxing incision on pre-existing astigmatism post-operatively in patients undergoing SICS cataract surgery. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology at Nehru Hospital attached to B.R.D. Medical College, Gorakhpur from period of July 2016 to June 2017. Study Design: This study is a comparative observational study. All the surgeries were performed by one surgeon. Study Group: patients meeting the inclusion criteria i.e. 1-3 D astigmatism as per keratometric readings. Results: A total of 90 patients were included in the study. Mean age 58.19 ± 7 years(range 30-70yrs). Mean pre-operative astigmatism of 1.44 ± 0.39D was found in these patients. Data analyzed demonstrated statistically significant reduction in the mean post-operative day 30 astigmatism in the LRI group to 0.54 ± 0.34 D (range: 0 to 2.5) from 1.31 ± 0.38 D (range: 1 to 3 D) preoperatively as compared to control group to 1.19 ± 0.56 D (range: 0 to 2.5) from 1.57 ± 0.37 D (range: 1 to 3 D) preoperatively, p-value 0.0001. There were no intraoperative complications or postoperative subjective complaints in our patients. Conclusion: Limbal relaxing incisions performed during SICS cataract surgery appear to be effective as well as safe procedure to reduce pre-existing corneal astigmatism.