AIM:To study the change of corneal astigmatism induced by a superior incision in manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). ·METHODS:Totally 57 patients 86 eyes were randomly divided into two groups depending on preexisting astigmatism. 42 eyes in group A underwent MSICS and 44 eyes in group B underwent phacoemulsification(Phaco). The surgically induced astigmatism(SIA) were measured by corneal topography preoperatively and 1 month,3 months postoperatively. ·RESULTS:The mean SIA was higher in the MSICS group than that in the Phaco group 1 month after surgery and there were statistical differences between these two groups(P<0.05). The mean SIA was still a little higher in the MSICS group than that in the Phaco group 3 months after surgery but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). ·CONCLUSION:The MSICS induced a slightly higher degree of SIA than Phaco,however there is no significant difference in the mean SIA at postoperative month 3. Both groups tend to stabilization of refraction 3 months after surgery.