·AIM:To compare the effect of different incisions on corneal astigmatism and uncorrected visual acuity in cataract surgery.·METHODS:Fifty-two eyes of 43 patients with corneal astigmatism above 1.00D were selected to undergo cataract surgery.Patients were randomly divided into two groups.Group A underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens(IOL)implantation with clear corneal incision on superior position(10∶30-11∶30 o’clock).Group B received extracapsular cataract extraction by manual nucleus division and IOL implantation.The eyes with astigmatism of 1.00-2.00D in group B received extracapsular cataract extraction with 6.0-7.0mm straight scleral tunnel incision at the maximum curvature meridian.The eyes with corneal astigmatism above 2.00D in group B received extracapsular cataract extraction with 6.0-7.0mm straight scleral tunnel incision at the maximum curvature meridian and an arcuate limbal incision 90° in length on the opposite side of the straight incision.The uncorrected visual acuity and corneal astigmatism were observed 2 weeks,3 months after operation.·RESULTS:Two weeks,3 months after operation,the uncorrected visual acuity in the group B was better than that in the group A.The corneal astigmatism in the group B was lower than that in the group A 2 weeks,3 months postoperatively.·CONCLUSION:The 6.0-7.0mm straight scleral tunnel incision at the maximum curvature meridian or together with an arcuate limbal incision on the opposite side of the straight incision in cataract surgery can reduce the preexisting corneal astigmatism.This is an effective way to achieve better visual quality after operation.·