AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcome of correction of corneal astigmatism and rotational stability of implantation of the AcrySof Toric intraocular lens(IOL)in cataract surgery.

METHODS: Twenty-eight patients(thirty-two eyes)with more than 1.0 diopter(D)of preexisting astigmatism underwent similar phacoemulsification combined with AcrySof toric IOL implantation. The uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), preoperative corneal astigmatism, anticipated residual astigmatism, postoperative residual astigmatism and toric lens axis were detected and compared.

RESULTS: At 1 year following surgery, 85% of eyes showed the 0.5 or better in UCVA; 86% of eyes was 0.8 or better in BCVA and 92% of eyes achieved 0.6 or better in BCVA. The mean preoperative corneal astigmatism was(2.20 ±0.65)D and the postoperative residual astigmatism was(0.54±0.13)D, indicating a significant decrease in refractive cylinder after surgery(t=10.134, P<0.01). Preoperative predictive astigmatism(0.52±0.14)D and postoperative residual astigmatism(0.54±0.13)D showed no significant difference(t=0.364, P>0.05). After postoperative 6 month, the mean rotation of toric IOLs was 3.4°±2.2°, and after postoperative 1 year it was 3.82°±1.27°.

CONCLUSION:AcrySof Toric IOL implantation is a viable and highly predictable method of correcting the corneal astigmatism, with no injury of the cornea. Careful selection of the patient, accurate keratometry and precise alignment of the cylindrical axes are some of the factors to be considered for a superior outcome.