Abstract: Objective To compare the surgically induced astigmatism after femtosecond laser surgery and phacoemulsification in patients with cataract.Methods A total of 100 patients with cataract (100 eyes) were divided into an experimental group (n=50) and a control group (n=50).The experimental group received femtosecond laser surgery,while the control group received traditional phacoemulsification surgery with clear corneal incision at 10 the o’clock position.Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),astigmatism,corneal thickness,and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) were compared between the two groups before and after surgery.Results The UCVA in the two groups 1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months after surgery was improved compared with the indicator before surgery (P<0.05),but had no statistical differences between the two groups (P>0.05).The BCVA in the two groups were not statistically different 1 day,1 week,and 3 months after surgery (P>0.05),but 1 month after surgery,the BCVA in the control group was better than that in the experimental group (P<0.05).The astigmatism,corneal thickness,and SIA before surgery and 3 months after surgery were not different between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Although both femtosecond laser surgery and phacoemulsification result in better UCVA at the early period after surgery,but the former effect is faster.

Key words: Femtosecond laser surgery, Phacoemulsification, Surgically induced astigmatism