Corneal astigmatism following cataract surgery.

Seventy-seven cases of intracapsular cataract extraction were analyzed for immediate and long-term induced corneal astigmatic changes. Sutures used were predominantly interrupted, absorbable sutures buried under a limbus-based conjunctival flap. The average induced astigmatism in the first week after surgery was 3.87 diopters with-the-rule. The average induced astigmatism after six weeks was 0.79 diopters against-the-rule. The cause of the induced change is discussed.