Frequency of induced astigmatism following phacoemulsification with suturing versus without suturing.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

To compare the postoperative astigmatism between sutured wounds and nonsutured wounds after cataract surgery with a 3.2-mm scleral tunnel incision.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

One hundred ten eyes of 110 patients were studied. Eyes with cataracts were randomly assigned to either the sutured or the unsutured procedure. Identical surgical methods were used in every case except for wound closure technique. Data on uncorrected visual acuity and induced astigmatism were analyzed for 6 months after the surgery.

RESULTS

Both groups displayed similar uncorrected visual acuity. Mean induced corneal astigmatism was "against-the-rule" with both techniques, and it remained stable during the study. No significant differences were found between the two groups (P > .1).

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that the differences in surgically induced astigmatisms of sutured wounds and nonsutured wounds after cataract surgery were not statistically significant when a 3.2-mm self-sealing incision was used.