We analyzed corneal astigmatic change on patients after phacoemulsification with scleral pocket incision, according to incision length and suture methods. The patients were divided into 4 groups and followed up at least for 2 months. The four groups were 5.5 mm incision length with horizontal suture technique group, 5.5 mm incision length with sutureless technique group, 6.5 mm - 7.0 mm incision length with horizontal suture technique group and 6.5 mm - 7.0 mm incision length withsutureless technique group. Inall groups, there was slightly increasing tendency of against the rule astigmatism, but less than 0.54 D(average). Among the patients with 5.5 mm incision length, horizontal suture group had almost the same astigmatic change as sutureless group(p=0.44, t-test), and with horizontal suture technique, 5.5 mm group had a tendency of less astigmatic change than 6.5 - 7.0 mm group(p=0.087, t-test), but without statistical significance.
Astigmatism* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures*

A large amount of corneal astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty is a common problem. The purpose of this study was to find out which is the best suture method to minimize the postoperative corneal astigmatism. Among 35 eyes there were 7 eyes in interrupted suture group, 14 eyes in continuous suture group, and 14 eyes in combined suture group. In order to minimize postoperative astigmatism selective suture removal was done in interrupted suture group or combined suture group, and suture tension adjustment was made in continuous suture group. At postoperative 20 months the mean astigmastism was 5.97D in interrupted suture group, 3.66D in continuous suture group and 2.87D in combined suture group, respectively. There was no statistical significance. In spite of statistical insignificance, the astigmatism of continuous or combined suture group after penetrating keratoplasty was smaller than that of interrupted suture group after penetrating keratoplasty.
Astigmatism* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Sutures*