Abstract:AIM: To observe the effect of phacoemulsification with corneoscleral limbus incision on cataract.
METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 84 cases(84 eyes)of cataract patients admitted to our hospital from October 2021 to December 2022 were randomly grouped into two groups using the random number table method. The control group consisted of 42 cases(42 eyes)that underwent phacoemulsification with upper transparent corneal incision, while the study group consisted of 42 cases(42 eyes)that underwent phacoemulsification with corneoscleral limbus incision. The uncorrected visual acuity, astigmatism, ocular surface function, corneal sensitivity, and complications were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity between the two groups of patients before and after surgery, as well as over time(both P<0.05). The uncorrected visual acuity of both groups showed a decreasing trend before and after surgery at 4 and 12 wk(both P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in preoperative and postoperative astigmatism and corneal fluorescein staining(FLS)scores between the two groups of patients, as well as at different time points(both P<0.05). The astigmatism and FLS scores of the two groups of patients showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing before and after surgery at 4 and 12 wk(both P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in breakup time of tear film(BUT)between the two groups of patients before and after surgery(both P<0.05); the BUT of both groups of patients showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing before and after surgery at 4 and 12 wk(both P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt), upper corneal sensitivity, and central corneal sensitivity between the two groups of patients before and after surgery, as well as at different times(all P<0.05). The SⅠt, upper corneal sensitivity, and central corneal sensitivity of the two groups of patients showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing before and after surgery at 4 and 12 wk(all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of complications between the control group(12%, 5/42)and the study group(14%, 6/42; χ2=0.105, P=0.746).
CONCLUSION: Compared to the phacoemulsification with upper transparent corneal incision, the phacoemulsification with corneoscleral limbus incision can reduce the adverse effects on uncorrected visual acuity, astigmatism, ocular surface function, and corneal sensitivity in patients with cataract, and does not increase the incidence of complications.