AIM:To investigate whether complex surgical incision in cataract surgery based on corneal astigmatism axial can reduce preoperative corneal astigmatism.

METHODS: Cataract patients 100 cases(100 eyes)with corneal astigmatism more than 1.50D detected by keratometry were collected in this study. Scleral tunnel incision was made as the main incision according to diameter direction of maximum corneal refractive power, meanwhile, an auxiliary incision was performed on the other side of the main incision. Extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation was performed by a small-incision. The preoperative and postoperative(3 days, 1 month, 3, 6, 12 months)corneal astigmatism and uncorrected visual acuity were measured.

RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative(3 days, 1 month, 3, 6, 12 months)average corneal astigmatism were(+2.08±0.666)D,(-1.06±0.75)D,(+0.67±0.71)D,(+1.11±0.77)D,(+1.20±0.88)D and(+1.30±0.68)D, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative(3 days, 1 month, 3, 6, 12 months)average uncorrected visual acuity were 0.30±0.19, 0.55±0.25, 0.69±0.21, 0.66±0.18, 0.65±0.20, 0.60±0.22.

CONCLUSION: The use of composite and personalized incision in cataract surgery helps to reduce preoperative corneal astigmatism. Because of the advantage of simple process and low cost, this operation is suitable to popularize in poverty alleviation at the grassroots level.