Background
The aim of this study was to compare the visual and astigmatic outcomes following manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) versus phacoemulsification (PHACO) and to calculate the surgically-induced astigmatism (SIA) following both techniques.
Patients and methods
The study was conducted on 64 eyes of 63 consecutive patients with cataract who underwent either PHACO surgery (group 1; =32) or MSICS (group 2; =32). Patients were examined at day 1, 1 week, 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The basic postoperative parameters were uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity. SIA was calculated using SIA calculator, version 2.1, in which the preoperative and postoperative K-readings and their axes were used.
Results
In the last postoperative visit after 3 months, the uncorrected visual acuity ranged between 6/18 and 6/9 in both groups. The visual acuity was markedly improved at 3 months of follow-up in comparison with preoperative status (<0.0001) and in comparison with early postoperative status (<0.0001). The PHACO group had a better visual acuity at 3 months of follow-up (<0.01). After 3 months of follow-up, the mean SIA was 2.08 in the PHACO group, whereas it was 2.96 in the MSICS group. There was no statistically significant difference in either the amount (=0.166) or the axis (=0.195) of SIA between patients treated with PHACO and patients treated with MSICS.
Conclusion
MSICS is an effective, fast and economical technique and should be considered as an alternative to PHACO in certain cases.