AIM: To assess the clinical outcomes and safety of toric intraocular lenses(Toric IOL)for the correction of preexisting corneal astigmatism in cataract patients having micro-incision phacoemulsification.

METHODS:Fifty-eight patients(69 eyes)with age-related cataract and corneal astigmatism were included in this clinical case series study and had micro-incision phacoemulsification combined with of Acrysof Toric IOL implantation. Preoperative corneal astigmatism was more than 0.75 diopter(D)for all eyes. The postoperative data of visual acuity, corneal astigmatism,and anticipated residual astigmatism were recorded. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), postoperative residual astigmatism and toric lens axis were observed. The postoperative data was collected on the day 1, month 1, 3 and year 1 after operation.

RESULTS: At 1 year following surgery, the UCVA rise up to 0.70±0.11 from 0.15±0.06(χ²=86.67, P<0.05)on average, and BCVA from 0.21±0.01 to 0.73±0.20(χ²=82.23, P<0.05)indicating a statistical difference. Mean preoperative figure of corneal astigmatism and anticipated residual astigmatism was 2.25±0.73D and 0.34±0.09D, and corneal astigmatism was 0.51±0.21D one year after operation, indicating a statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative astigmatism(t=12.48, P<0.05). There was no statistical difference among postoperative corneal astigmatism and anticipated residual astigmatism(t=1.69, P>0.05). The D-value of IOL positioning and predict axis was 3.79°±1.21° one year postoperatively. Ninety-six percent of patients had less than 5.00° of rotation, and no operative complication was found. There was no statistical difference in various time quantum in terms of BCVA, residual astigmatism, IOL axial view rotation(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION:For cataract patients, micro-incision phacoemulsification combined with Toric IOL can effectively improve visual acuity, rectify preoperative corneal astigmatism with fair stability.