Abstract
M.Phil.
One of the most important causes of blindness worldwide is cataracts. A constant struggle exists among cataract ophthalmic surgeons to minimize surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and thus to ensure a better uncorrected visual acuity (VA) for the patient after surgery. Different techniques have been tried to accomplish a 100% success rate of 6/6 vision after surgery, but one of the greatest hurdles in this struggle is high corneal astigmatism before surgery.
One of the more successful techniques used to reduce corneal astigmatism after surgery is the opposite clear corneal incision (OCCI) technique. In this technique, the surgeon makes two equally long cuts through the clear part of the cornea opposite each other on the steepest meridian of the cornea. When the wounds heal, they form scar tissue, pulling the cornea flatter along this meridian and thus reducing the corneal astigmatism.