J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1991 Jan;32(1):9-15.

Postoperative Astigmatism Control Effects Using the Zeiss Surgical Keratometer During Cataract Surgery

• Kim JN
• Han TW
• Kim MS
• Kim JH

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects of the postoperative astigmatism control, we compared 20 eyes measuring astigmatism at the end of operation with the Zeiss surgical keratometer and then had received loosening or tightening of sutures(keratometer group), with 20 eyes that were operated without the keratometer(control group). The mean cylindrical power of the keratometer group was lower than the control group at early postoperative period(P<0.001), but there was no statistical difference between both group at one or two months after operation. However the amount of cylinder was smaller in the keratometer group than in the control group. 19 of 20 eyes(95%) had less than 2D of astigmatism in the keratometer group, but in the control group 15 of 20 eyes(75%) had less than 2D of astigmatism at postoperative 60 days. 4 cases of posterior capsule rupture as intraoperative complication occured in the keratometer group. The posterior capsule rupture was caused by the decrease of surgical field clarity due to farther working distance by 17.5cm through attaching the Zeiss surgical keratometer to the operating microscope. From this study, Zeiss surgical keratometer seems to useful to reduce the early postoperative astigmatism but the intraoperative difficulty because of occupying space and decreasing clarity of surgical field is observed. The posterior capsule rupture as intraoperative complication occurs more frequently due to the disadvantages of this instrument.

Keyword

Zeiss surgical keratometer; The amount of cylinder

MeSH Terms

Astigmatism*
Cataract*
Intraoperative Complications
Rupture