AIM: To evaluate the clinical effect of toric intraocular lens(IOL)implantation as a treatment of special corneal astigmatism during phacoemulsification.

METHODS: Ten patients 12 eyes with cataract and corneal astigmatism had toric IOL implantation during phacoemulsification. 4 eyes had pterygium surgery before, 3 eyes got corneal scar after wound, 5 eyes had corneal nebula or macula. Outcome measurements were uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA), best-corrected distance visual acuity(BCDVA), postoperative refractive cylinder, toric IOL axis rotational stability and complications in 6 months following-up.

RESULTS: Six months postoperatively, mean UDVA was 0.62±0.31, mean BCDVA was 0.70±0.35. UDVA was better than 0.8 in 2 eyes(17%)and better than 0.5 in 9 eyes(75%). Residual refractive cylinder postoperatively was 0.51±0.36D. Corneal astigmatism did not change significantly. Residual astigmatism was significantly lower than preoperative. The mean IOL misalignment was 3.80±1.46 degrees, less than 5 degrees in 11 eyes(92%). Only 1 eye got rotation in 6 degrees.

CONCLUSION: Implantation of the toric IOL during cataract surgery is effective, predictable and safe in correcting some special cases with corneal astigmatism.