COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SURGICALLY INDUCED ASTIGMATISM FOLLOWING BLUMENTHAL VERSUS FROWN CORNEOSCLERAL TUNNEL INCISION IN MSICS (MANUAL SMALL INCISION CATARACT SURGERY)

Abstract

Background: The goal of cataract surgery is to provide clear eyesight and early visual recovery. In addition to
being safe, less reliant on technology, sutureless, short-duration, cost-effective, stable, consistent, and successful in
restoring vision, MSICS has the benefit of being able to treat all types of cataracts.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the astigmatism that was surgically inflicted after Frown versus
Blumenthal corneoscleral tunnel incisions in MSICS.
Methods: 88 participants of both sexes were included in the study and were split into two groups of 44 participants
each using odd and even numbers. Group A participants underwent MSICS with a Frown Corneoscleral incision,
while Group B participants underwent an MSICS with a Blumenthal Corneoscleral incision. Every participant
underwent follow-up at one day, one, four, and six weeks following surgery, at which time they underwent
fundoscopy, keratometry, and other assessments.
Results: With mean best-corrected values of 0.630±0.210 and 0.691±0.229, respectively, Group B (Frown incision)
had greater visual acuity than Group A (Blumenthal incision). Nevertheless, at p=0.199, this difference was
statistically not significant. Preoperative mean visual acuity for Group A and B was 0.123±0.136 and 0.191±0.408,
respectively, and was statistically not significant between the two groups (p=0.297). The difference in visual acuity
between the two groups on postoperative day 1, first week, third week, and sixth week was statistically nonsignificant,
with corresponding p-values of 0.402, 0.387, 0.227, and 0.087.
The current study reveals that postoperatively, both Frown and Blumenthal corneoscleral incisions in MSICS result
in the best-corrected visual acuity and the least amount of astigmatism. There is no statistically significant difference
in surgically produced astigmatism between the two research groups. Therefore, both incisions can be utilised to
treat cataracts; however, the Blumenthal incision works better than the Frown incision for large nuclei and hard
cataracts.