Study on the role of simple myopic against-the-rule astigmatism in visual rehabilitation in monofocal pseudophakic patients

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract surgery has been viewed as one of the most cost-effective health interventions with salvation of the disability-adjusted life years. The near visual acuity has always been a cause of concern following the cataract surgery as the patient loses accommodating power after it. This loss of reading ability can significantly reduce a patients' quality of life. Another important parameter that affects visual acuity of a person is contrast sensitivity. There is evidence in literature that these two aspects of vision are affected by surgically induced ATR in monofocal pseudophakic patients. Objective: To compare the visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in monofocal pseudophakic patients with low myopia with and without low ATR astigmatism. Materials and Methods: The cases selected were divided into study group and control group. Study group included 25 consecutive eyes (cases) with monofocal pseudophakia having spherical power from 0 D to-0.5 D with ATR astigmatism ranging from-0.5 D to-1.25 D. Control group comprised 25 consecutive eyes (controls) with monofocal pseudophakia having spherical power from 0 D to -0.5 D without astigmatism. Comparison was done between the groups based upon uncorrected distance visual acuity, uncorrected near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Conclusion: The mean uncorrected distance visual acuity was almost equal in both the groups, therefore, the difference was not statistically significant with p=0.420. On the other hand, the uncorrected near visual acuity was better in the study group as compared to the control group and the difference was statistically significant with p