Comparison of small-incision phacoemulsification with standard extracapsular cataract surgery: post-operative astigmatism and visual recovery.

A prospective study compared post-operative astigmatism and visual acuity (corrected and uncorrected) following phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery. Fifty eyes had implantation of a 7 mm diameter optic intraocular lens (IOL) following conventional extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with a 10 mm corneal incision. Forty-seven eyes were implanted with a 5 x 6 mm optic IOL through a 5 mm scleral incision after phacoemulsification. Uncorrected visual acuity of 6/9 or better was achieved in 25% of eyes on the first day following phacoemulsification, 36% at 1 week and 57% at 12 weeks. These results (and also the best corrected acuity) were significantly better than those following ECCE. Less astigmatism was induced by phacoemulsification than extracapsular surgery, measured at all post-operative time intervals.