Comparison of astigmatism after phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction

Objective: To compare astigmatism after phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction technique. Method: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at Zainab Medicare hospital Haroonabad from September 2018 to May 2019. A sample size of 80 patients having cataract, age 41 to 70 years was included in this study. Slit lamp examination was performed for anterior segment evaluation and astigmatism was determined with autorefraction and keratometry. Result: Phaco technique was more reliable. The means and the standard deviation of phaco post op astigmatism was 0.7860 ±.48880 and ECCE post op astigmatism was 3.6310±1.96236 which indicated that the degree of astigmatism increases after extra capsular cataract extraction technique. The significant level was 0.00 which showed that the phaco technique is highly significant. Conclusion: Corneal astigmatism was almost similar in two groups prior to surgery but after the cataract surgery the astigmatism significantly decreased after phacoemulsification group at 2 weeks follow-up, the results indicated that phaco may be considered superior to ECCE. No suturing is required in phaco and hence lesser chances of post op astigmatism.