Corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism following combined phacoemulsification and 25-gauge vitrectomy.

AIM: To evaluate corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after combined phacoemulsification and 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (25-G TSV).

METHODS: A retrospective study on 96 eyes of 87 patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and 25-G TSV. The different topographic parameters and SIA were analyzed pre- and postoperatively.

RESULTS: There was no significant changes in corneal topographic parameters at different follow up periods. Only surface regularity index changed significantly in the 2(nd) postoperative week and then returned to baseline values thereafter. Mean SIA gradually decreased to reach 0.12 D by the 6(th) postoperative month.

CONCLUSION: Corneal surface and astigmatic changes are insignificant in either early or late postoperative periods following combined phacoemulsification and 25-G TSV. The SIA was the minimum among previous reports on sutureless vitrectomy alone or combined with phacoemulsification. Improvement of SIA did not stop at the 3(rd) postoperative month but it continued till the 6(th) month postoperatively.