Analysis of surgically induced astigmatism of the anterior, posterior, and total cornea after implantable collamer lens implantation: a comparative study between temporal and superior clear corneal incisions.

Background: To comparatively analyze the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) of the anterior, posterior, and total corneas of eyes undertaking implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation with temporal or superior corneal incisions.

Methods: One hundred and nine eyes of 109 patients who received ICL implantation were recruited: 40 eyes had temporal incisions and 69 eyes had superior incisions. Total corneal refractive power (TCRP); simulated keratometry of the anterior (Sim-K) and posterior (Sim-K) corneal curvature; and astigmatism of the anterior (CA), posterior (CA), and total (CA) cornea were recorded through a Pentacam preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The SIA of the anterior, posterior, and total cornea were also compared between the two groups.

Results: There were no significant intergroup differences for TCRP, Sim-K, Sim-K, CA, CA, or CA, preoperatively. However, values of CA, CA, and CA with temporal incision were significantly higher than those parameters with superior incision postoperatively. All of the SIA of the anterior, posterior, and total cornea were significantly lower for temporal incision than those with a superior incision (p < 0.001, p = 0.006 and p = 0.001 respectively). Meanwhile, the superior incisions created against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism, and temporal incisions always induce with-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism in total cornea.

Conclusions: A superior incision may be suitable for correcting WTR astigmatism, while a temporal incision for correcting ATR astigmatism when using a non-toric ICL. Meanwhile, temporal incision could be a better choice with little preoperative astigmatism or that preoperative astigmatism would be corrected with toric ICLs.

Trial Registration: Registration number: ChiCTR2100051739. Prospectively registered: 01 October 2021.