Astigmatism induced by intrastromal corneal suture after small incision phacoemulsification

Purpose: To evaluate the course of astigmatic evolution and complications after clear corneal incisions using an intrastromal corneal suture. Setting: Institute Oftalmoiogico de Alicante, University of Alicante, Spain. Methods: Eighty eyes of 62 patients had endocapsular phacoemulsification. A foldable intraocular lens was implanted through a 4.0 mm clear corneal incision. A 10-0 nylon intrastromal corneal suture was used in ail eyes. Changes in corneal astigmatism were calculated by vector analysis. follow-up was 6 months. Early and late suture-related complications were also evaluated. Results: Mean induced cylinder was 1.25 diopters (D) +/- 1.24 (SD) with the wound 1 day postoperatively and 0.19 +/- 0.81 D against the wound at 6 months. There were no incision-or suture-related complications postoperatively. Conclusion: Use of the intrastromal corneal suture led to astigmatically neutral closure of multiplanar corneal incisions.