Refraction after clear corneal incision phacoemulsification

Objective: To determine the stabilization of refractive error after 4mm clear corneal incision phacoemulsification. Design: Prospective, noncomparative case series. Participant: 96 patients with cataract. Method: 96 patients (111eyes, including eye length<25mm in 86 eyes and eye length ≥ 25mm in 25 eyes) have 4mm clear corneal incision phacoemulsification and IOL implantation from 2002-March to 2002-June. All patients were refracted and examined with keratometry preoperatively, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months postoperatively. Main Outcome Measure: Refraction. Result: The spherical equivalent refractive errors in all the eyes were -1.02±0.95D, -0.92±0.98D, -0.89±0.96D, -0.87±0.93D, in length<25mm eyes were -0.80±0.74D, -0.70±0.79D, -0.67±0.76D, -0.64±0.71D and in length ≥25mm eyes were -1.84±1.20D, -1.72±1.19D, -1.73±1.15D, -1.72±1.15D at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months postoperatively. The refractive spherical equivalent error was stable after one week in all eyes and eye length<25mm, but it was one month in length≥25mm eyes. The operative astigmatisms measured with vector were 1.64±1.25D, 1.61± 1.31D, 1.58±1.29D, 1.57±1.25D; From one week on, there were no significant difference from those at three months. Conclusion: The 4mm clear corneal incision phacoemulsification and IOL implantation led to early recovery of visual function in short term (1 month) and less induced astigmatism. The appropriate time to prescribe spectacles was 1 month after surgery.