ASCRS-ASOA Early Regression of Limbal Relaxing Incisions in Phacoemulsification Patients: At 1 and 6 Weeks Postoperatively by Melissa M. Cable, MD, FAAO, FACS Discover Vision Centers *Author has no financial interest
ASCRS-ASOA Purpose To evaluate early and late results for limbal relaxing incisions to correct preexisting astigmatism in patients having cataract surgery.
ASCRS-ASOA Methods This retrospective study performed by a single surgeon included 15 eyes of 10 consecutive patients with D of preexisting corneal astigmatism having cataract surgery with Tecnis aspheric monofocal lenses. The uncorrected and best corrected visual acuities (UCVA and BCVA, respectively) were recorded at 1 and 6 weeks postoperatively.
ASCRS-ASOA Results – 1 Week At 1 week postoperatively, visual acuity was 20/25 or better uncorrected in 67% of eyes and best corrected 93% of eyes. At the same time point, visual acuity was 20/40 or better uncorrected in 93% of eyes and best corrected in 100% of eyes.
ASCRS-ASOA Results – 6 Weeks At 6 weeks postoperatively, visual acuity was 20/25 or better uncorrected in 40% of eyes and best corrected in 100% of eyes. At the same time point, visual acuity was 20/40 or better uncorrected in 87% of eyes and best corrected in 100% of eyes.
ASCRS-ASOA Comparison: Results – 1 Week vs. 6 Weeks RESULTSVisual Acuity Uncorrected / Best Corrected Visual Acuity Uncorrected / Best Corrected 1 Wk20/2567% / 93% 20/4093% / 100% 6 Wks20/2540% / 100% 20/4087% / 100%
ASCRS-ASOA Conclusion Limbal relaxing incisions can be a vision optimizing procedure, especially when combined with phacoemulsification surgery. In this series of cataract patients, many patients with preexisting corneal astigmatism had excellent UCVA 1 week after cataract surgery combined with limbal relaxing incisions.
ASCRS-ASOA Conclusion Additional retrospective study is required for a possible trend towards regression of effect at 6 weeks postoperatively.
ASCRS-ASOA About the Author: Melissa M. Cable, MD, FAAO, FACS, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with Discover Vision Centers in Kansas City, MO., specializing in gentle no-stitch cataract surgery, ocular disease and cosmetic procedures. Dr. Cable graduated at the top 5% of her class in both her undergraduate and medical degree programs at Louisiana State University. She completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City before joining Discover Vision Centers in Dr. Cable is one of only six partners in the company. With 35 doctors, 9 locations and 3 surgery centers located in the Kansas City Metro area, Discover Vision Centers has become one of the largest private ophthalmic medical-surgical practices in the United States.
ASCRS-ASOA Thank you! Contact Information: Melissa M. Cable, MD, FAAO, FACS Discover Vision Centers 4741 S. Cochise Drive Independence, MO Phone: (816) Fax: (816)