[Limbal relaxing incisions and cataract surgery: our experience].

PURPOSE To evaluate the reduction of pre-existing corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery with limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs). METHODS A prospective study of two groups of patients (treatment and control) with pre-existing astigmatism>or=1D was performed. The 30 patients in the control group had a temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification and the 32 patients of treatment group had combined temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification and LRIs. Holladay analysis was used to assess the efficacy of treatment. An astigmatism distribution and prevalence study in our population is also presented. RESULTS Three months after surgery, the mean astigmatism change was -0.55D (-0.75 to -0.35) in the treatment group and 0.04D (-0.3 to 0.3) in the control group (p<.0001). CONCLUSIONS LRI is a simple, safe and effective method not only for reducing pre-existing astigmatism during cataract surgery but in providing good unaided visual acuity.