Effect of incision length, location, and shape on local corneoscleral deformation during cataract surgery.

The effect of incision length, location, and shape on the structural integrity of the globe was examined using finite element analysis by comparing the radial deformation of the corneoscleral tissue adjacent to the incision. The results show that incision length had the greatest adverse effect, 12 mm incisions causing deformations an order of magnitude higher than the distension of the intact globe at 20 mm Hg. The least structural disturbance was produced by 3 mm scleral pocket incisions.