Limbal Relaxing Incision to Correct Pre-existing Corneal Astigmatism in Patients Undergoing Phacoemulsification

To evaluate the effectiveness of limbal relaxing incision (LRI) during phacoemulsification for correcting pre-existing corneal astigmatism. The study included 21 eyes of 21 patients undergoing phacoemulsification combined with LRI and 36 eyes of 36 patients undergoing phacoemulsification without LRI as controls. LRI was created according to a nomorgram based on preoperative astigmatism as determined by topography. Jaffe vector analysis was used for evaluation of changes in astigmatism. Mean corneal astigmatism was 2.82±1.07 diopter (D) preoperatively which decreased to 1.68±1.03 D 12 weeks postoperatively in the LRI group. Corresponding figures were 0.66±0.27 D and 0.62±0.22 D in controls respectively. Mean arithmetic reduction in keratometric astigmatism was 1.19±1.04 D and mean vector change in cylinder was 2.37±1.36 D in the LRI group. Thirteen cases (61.9%) of under-correction and two cases (9.5%) of over-correction occurred in the LRI group. Limbal relaxing incision is effective in reducing pre-existing corneal astigmatism during cataract surgery; however a modified nomogram is needed.