Minimal duration cataract surgery with oblique limbal stab incision technique

PURPOSE: Small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and phacoemulsification with oblique limbal stab incision technique were studied and compared. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, for 1 year. DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized study. METHODS: One hundred patients undergoing SICS (6–7 mm) were compared with another age- and sex-matched 100 patients undergoing phaco (2.8 mm) surgery with oblique limbal stab incision technique. These two groups were further subdivided into two groups of 50 each. Patients with traumatic cataract, corneal diseases, and preoperative astigmatism >1.5 D were excluded from the study. The patients were subjected to standard preoperative evaluation. Follow-up was done at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Mean surgically induced astigmatism at 12 weeks was <1 D in both groups (+0.62 D ± 0.34 in Group A and +0.46 D ± 0.39 in Group B) (statistically significant P < 0.0010). Mean surgical duration was 690.09 s in SICS and 792.29 s in phacoemulsification (statistically significant, P < 0.0010). Visual outcome was between 6/6 and 6/9 in 86% of the patients in Group A and 97% of patients in Group B at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: SICS and phacoemulsification with this technique yield lesser astigmatism than clear corneal and scleral incisions, with the advantage of extension without suturing in complicated cases of phaco and in patients with rigid intraocular lens phacoemulsification gives better BCVA in a larger proportion of patients at 12 weeks.