Comparison of Mean Surgically Induced Astigmatism in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery Using Frown Vs Chevron Incision

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v40i4.1814

Abstract

Purpose:  To compare the mean surgically induced Astigmatism(SIA) in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) using frown (inverted U) versus inverted V (chevron) incision.

Study Design:  Quasi experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study:  Hayatabad Medical Complex from 27^th July 2018 to 27^th January 2019.

Methods:  This study included 148 patients who were distributed into the Frown group (F) and Chevron group (C) by convenient sampling. Each group had 74 patients through block operative randomization. To eliminate bias, all the surgeries were performed by one surgeon having more than 5 years’ experience of MSICS. Pre-operative and Post operative keratometric readings were taken. SIA calculator was utilized, and data was analyzed through SPSS 26. Means and standard deviation for continuous variables like age and surgically induced astigmatism were calculated.

Results:  In Group F, mean surgically induced astigmatism was 1.14±0.65D and in Group C it was 0.87±0.55D. The independent T test revealed that the mean SIA was significantly lower in the Chevron group compared to the Frown group.The post operative visual acuities showed that the proportion of patients with postoperative 6/6 vision in the Chevron group was more as compared to group F.

Conclusion:  Chevron (inverted V) incision induces less postoperative mean surgically induced astigmatism than Frown (inverted U) incision in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery. These findings may have implications for cataract surgery techniques and may help in reducing postoperative astigmatism.