This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Toric IOL implantation may be more effective, predictable than peripheral corneal relaxing incisions
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2010;36(10):1700-1708.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Toric IOL implantation to manage astigmatism during phacoemulsification is more effective and predictable than peripheral corneal relaxing incisions, even though both techniques were found to reduce astigmatism, a study said.
"Our study of eyes with mild or moderate astigmatism found that toric IOL implantation resulted in better refractive and visual outcomes, and thus greater spectacle freedom for distance vision, than relaxing incisions," the authors said.
Of the 40 eyes of 40 consecutive patients in the prospective, randomized, comparative case series, 20 underwent toric IOL implantation and 20 underwent peripheral corneal relaxing incisions.
At 3 months follow-up, uncorrected distance visual acuity was better than 0.20 in 75% of eyes in the toric IOL group and 60% of eyes in the relaxing incisions group. The refractive cylinder decreased significantly in both groups.
Although researchers found no significant differences in contrast sensitivity between the groups, "there was a trend toward better mesopic contrast sensitivity with glare in the toric IOL group," the study said.
There were no differences in VF-14 or patient satisfaction results; 15% of patients in the toric IOL group and 45% of patients in the relaxing incision group required distance spectacles after surgery.