Astigmatism In Patients Undergoing Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) In General Hospital, Calabar.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine and compare thepattern of preoperative and postoperative astigmatism in SICS patients at General hospital, Calabar.

Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive, longitudinal hospital-based study among adult participants who underwent SICS in General Hospital, Calabar. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cross River State Health Research Ethics Committee. Informed consent was obtained from two hundred and seventy-two participants who underwent SICS with Posterior chamber Intraocular lens implantation. Autokeratometry was carried out on all participants preoperatively, Days 1, 14, and 28 postoperatively. Determination of astigmatism was done using the keratometry readings. Withthe-rule (WTR) astigmatism was considered when vertical reading (K1) was found to be greater than horizontal (K2). Against- the-rule (ATR) astigmatism was considered when K2 was greater than KI1. Astigmatism values > 0.5D were considered clinically significant. The statistical test was deemed significant if the p-value was < 0.05.

Results: Among the 272 study participants, 159 were males (58.5%) and 113(41.5%) females. Preoperatively, 233(85.7%) participants had astigmatism, of which 230(84.6%) had ATR astigmatism. Postoperatively, 261(96.0%) had a stigmatism on days 1 and 14, while 258(94.9%) had astigmatism on day 28. The difference between those who had it on final follow-up postoperatively compared to preoperative was 25(9.2%). The predominant pattern postoperatively was also ATR astigmatism occurring in 249 (91.6%) patients at postoperative day 28.

Conclusion
ATR astigmatism was observed to occur more frequently than WTR astigmatism both pre- and post-operatively. There was a significant increase in proportion of those with astigmatism postoperatively following SICS which did not alter the pattern. However, there was a reduction in the severity of astigmatism.