Comparison of Surgically Induced Astigmatism After Cataract Surgery Using Femtosecond Laser–Assisted Versus Manual Wound Construction
Purpose
To compare the amount of surgically induced astigmatism after cataract surgery with femtosecond laser-assisted wound construction versus manual wound construction.
Methods
Retrospective study of 109 eyes. The study was performed at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. Eyes were divided into 2 groups: In the manual group, wounds were created manually using metal blades to create a triplanar full thickness 2.4 mm clear corneal incision. In the femtosecond laser group, the Alcon LenSx laser was used to create a triplanar full thickness 2.4 mm clear corneal incision. Preoperative and postoperative placido-based topography was then analyzed for each group with special attention to the change in corneal cylinder at one month postoperatively.
Results
Surgically induced astigmatism in the manual group was 0.1071 ± 0.791 diopters compared to -0.0211 ± 0.389 diopters in the femtosecond laser group. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of surgically induced astigmatism between the two groups (p=0.418).
Conclusion
Surgically induced astigmatism does not vary significantly between femtosecond laser-assisted wound creation and manual wound creation. Surgeons switching to femtosecond laser-assisted wound creation do not need to alter their usual surgeon-induced astigmatism factor for toric intraocular lens or limbal relaxing incision calculations.