Corneal topographic analysis of small incision in cataract surgery

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the corneal topographical and corneal curvature changes of small incision in cataract surgery. METHODS: 38 eyes of 36 patients who had undergone small incision cataract surgery were followed up at one week and one, three, six and twelve months postoperatively by corneal topography and keratometer. RESULTS: At one week postoperatively, there was slight steeping or flattening at the center and peripheral cornea, but the change was recovered to the preoperative state after one month. No significant changes had been observed after a long-term observation. The result of keratometer was different from that of topography. CONCLUSIONS: It is clearly demonstrated that smaller wound incision produces less astigmatism, faster postoperative recovery and more stable refraction. The results of corneal topography reflect curvature changes more reliably and precisely than that of keratometer, and topography is of great value in cataractous surgical evaluation.