Paired Relaxing Incisions for the Control of Astigmatism

The problem of astigmatism, occurring both congenitally and in conjunction with cataract and refractive surgery, is a common and significant one. A review of patients in this study shows 18% greater than 2 diopters and 6% greater than 3 diopters of astigmatism measured by keratometry. Many methods for correcting this astigmatism have developed, including long peripheral incisions, both straight and curved, the many varieties of the Ruiz procedure, and short paired relaxing incisions. I have reviewed my results for short paired incisions following cataract surgery, congenital astigmatism, and radial keratotomy at 6 months following surgery. The average change in astigmatism was 2.69 +/- 0.78 (manifest)/2.35 +/- 1.09 (keratometry) for the 5-mm optic zone following cataract surgery. Paired relaxing incisions following radial keratotomy showed a change in astigmatism of 0.92 +/- 0.19 (manifest)/1.29 +/- 1.29 (keratometry) diopters for the 6-mm optic zone and 2.12 +/- 0.34 (manifest)/2.25 +/- 0.49 (keratometry) diopters for the 5.5-mm optic zone. No significant complications and no large overcorrections were encountered.