Lateral Corneoscleral 6-mm-incision for Reduction of Against-the-Rule Astigmatism

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lateral no-stitch cataract incision can reduce pre-existing against-the-rule astigmatism. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of change in keratometric astigmatism after standardized lateral 6 mm no-stitch scleral frown incision technique. One week and 3 months postoperatively, visual acuity, refraction (Canon RK II) and keratometry (Zeiss Ophthalmometer) were evaluated. SETTING: University Eye Hospital of Homburg, Saar, Germany. PATIENTS: Twenty-two eyes and patients were included in the study. RESULTS: The magnitude of the keratometric astigmatism was significantly (P < 0.01) less after 1 week and 3 months. There was no great shift of induced astigmatism between 1 week and 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that pre-existing against-the-rule astigmatism can be significantly reduced by placing the no-stitch cataract incision temporally at the steep astigmatism meridian.