Stabilization of refraction and timing of spectacle prescription following manual small-incision cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To determine the stabilization of refraction at 2 weeks following MSICS by comparing the difference in spherical, cylindrical component and also spherical equivalent of refraction of 2 weeks follow-up with that of 6 weeks following surgery. METHODS: The difference of spherical, cylindrical component and also spherical equivalent of refraction at 2 weeks and 6 weeks follow-up of 194 eyes that underwent uncomplicated MSICS with implantation of PMMA IOL conducted by a single experienced surgeon were compared to find out the amount of change and its significance was statistically tested by Wilcoxon-Signed Rank Test. RESULTS: The difference in spherical power (0.04 ± 0.30), cylinder power (0.03 ± 0.40), and spherical equivalent (0.06 ± 0.34) were very small and not significant statistically (P-value ≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Necessary spectacle correction can safely be prescribed after 2 weeks following MSICS as subjective refraction stabilizes by that time without undergoing significant change. However, our observation was applicable in patients who had an uneventful cataract surgery without any risk factor, which can delay wound healing or cause poor visual outcome.