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Variety of techniques available to correct astigmatism
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WAILEA, Hawaii – Astigmatism correction should be something every cataract surgeon should know how to do, a speaker told colleagues at the Hawaiian Eye 2015 meeting.
John Hovanesian
“There are a lot of ways now [to correct astigmatism] – with toric IOLs, femtosecond lasers and old-fashioned AK, astigmatic keratotomy,” John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, said.
In a survey of 200 patients who underwent routine cataract surgery, Hovanesian found that 80% were “extremely satisfied” if their result was with within 0.5 D or less of residual astigmatism.
Including patients who undergo limbal-relaxing incisions (LRIs), 51% of patients achieve results of less than or equal to 0.25 D of residual astigmatism and 70% achieve less than or equal to 0.50 D, he said.
“If properly performed, LRIs should produce accurate correction of astigmatism,” Hovanesian said.
To obtain best results, surgeons should know their surgically induced astigmatism and the patient’s corneal astigmatism, which is best measured in the central 2 mm, Hovanesian said.
“You can do LRIs. You can do them with a laser… you can do them with an incision and of course you can use toric IOLs to correct astigmatism. Use the tools you have available in order to give patients the most satisfactory result, but also factor in the result of the posterior cornea,” Hovanesian said. –by Nhu Te
Disclosure: Hovanesian reports no relevant financial disclosures.