Limbal relaxing incisions in the management of pre-existing astigmatism during phacoemulsification

In this study we evaluate the efficacy of placing limbal relaxing incisions at the steeper corneal meridian on the magnitude of the preexisting astigmatism. Regarding complications, we did not notice major complications like perforation, infection, working upon the wrong axis; but some cases developed foreign body sensation, discomfort and dryness. Limbal relaxing incisions are safe and effective method in reducing preexisting astigmatism up to 3.5 D, we recommend it as a routine method during phacoemulsification surgery. Astigmatism is an abnormality of the eye in which vision is blurred by an irregularly shaped cornea; one axis of the cornea is steeper than the other causing the cornea to distort the images.As astigmatism is mainly corneal in origin so treating astigmatism at the cornea is the most logic approach; during cataract surgery it is possible to correct some or the all defect.