Effect of 1.8-mm steep-axis clear corneal incision on the posterior corneal astigmatism in candidates for toric IOL implantation

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aimed to analyze the effects of cataract surgery using a 1.8-mm steep-axis clear corneal incision (CCI) on the posterior corneal surfaces based on the keratometry from the rotating Scheimpflug imaging device (Pentacam HR) in candidates for toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Preoperative and at least 1-month postoperative data measured by Pentacam HR were collected in patients for toric IOL implantation. Surgically induced astigmatism on the posterior cornea (P-SIA) was calculated based on the preoperative and postoperative keratometric data, and the related factors of P-SIA were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 60 eyes from 56 patients were enrolled. The preoperative anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism was 1.58 ± 0.61 D,0.28 ± 0.22 D and 1.70 ± 0.52 D respectively. The postoperative anterior, posterior and total corneal astigmatism was 1.26 ± 0.68 D, 0.41 ± 0.26 D and 1.30 ± 0.51 D respectively. The astigmatism was significantly decreased on anterior surface (P<0.001, paired t-test) and increased on posterior surface (P<0.001, paired t-test). The mean of P-SIA calculated by Holladay–Cravy–Koch method was 0.34 ± 0.20 D, with 0.5 D or greater accounting for 26.7%. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the P-SIA and preoperative anterior corneal astigmatism (r = 0.29, P = 0.024), as well as preoperative posterior corneal astigmatism (r = 0.27, P = 0.038). Multivariate regression analysis showed the preoperative anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism had a significant effect on P-SIA (F = 7.344, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In candidates for toric IOL implantation with a 1.8-mm steep-axis CCI, the incision caused a significant reduction of the anterior corneal astigmatism but an increase of the posterior corneal astigmatism. P-SIA could not be ignored, and it played a significant role in SIA, especially in cases with higher preoperative anterior or posterior corneal astigmatism.