Limbal Relaxing Incisions versus Penetrating Limbal Relaxing Incisions for the Management of Astigmatism in Cataract Surgery

Purpose: To compare between Limbal relaxing incisions and Penetrating limbal relaxing incisions in the management of astigmatism during cataract surgery.Setting: Cairo university hospitals (Kasr EL-Aini; Ophthalmic surgical unit).Methods: This prospective study was divided into two groups, group A; 20 cases LRIs and group B; 20 cases PLRIs.Limbal relaxing incisions were performed following the DONO nomogram during phacoemulsification using a preset guarded 550 microns disposable blade.Penetrating limbal relaxing entailed performing two full thickness incisions using a keratome knife along the steepest corneal meridian, in addition to the clear corneal stab incision of the phacoemulsification following the Mackool nomogram.Results: 40 eyes were evaluated.At 1 month postoperative, the average change in corneal cylinder (∆change) was found to be 1.178 D, SD 0.338 in the LRI group and -0.095 D, SD 0.846 in the PLRI group. Conclusion:The use of LRIs has been shown to be extremely safe and reliable.In the setting of concomitant lens surgery, our data indicate that this technique provides more predictable astigmatic outcomes as compared to the use of PLRIs, and yields more consistent results than when relying solely upon a tailored phaco incision.