Cataract surgery with toric intraocular lenses can optimize uncorrected postoperative visual acuity in patients with marked corneal astigmatism

Abstract

Purpose: To study the change in visual acuity and refraction after cataract surgery using a toric posterior chamber intraocular lens in patients with astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

Methods: A retrospective case note analysis of cataract surgery involving toric lens implants performed at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was conducted. The pre- and postoperative visual acuities and refractions were recorded.

Results: Seven consecutive patients are described (5 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 62 years. They all underwent penetrating keratoplasty, and in every case, all sutures were removed (mean, 11.2 months before cataract surgery). A marked improvement in both unaided visual acuity and astigmatism was shown after the procedure. The average preoperative unaided acuity was 6/120 (range, 6/24 to counting fingers) compared with a postoperative unaided visual acuity average of 6/15 (6/9-6/24). The average preoperative cylinder was 10.12 D (range, 3.40-17.89 D); postoperatively, this fell to 2.75 D (range, 0.75-4.25).

Conclusions: Cataract surgery with toric intraocular lenses allows the correction of high degrees of regular corneal astigmatism. We discussed the potential advantages and complications of performing toric lens cataract surgery as a secondary procedure.