To compare surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and some corneal higher order aberrations in patients who underwent microcoaxial cataract surgery (MCCS) or conventional cataract surgery.

A prospective randomized study included 60 eyes of 55 patients. Thirty eyes received MCCS using a 2.2mm clear corneal incision (group 1), and 30 eyes received conventional cataract surgery using a 2.8 mm clear corneal incision (group 2). SIA and corneal higher order aberrations were measured with a Keratometer (Humphrey, Zeiss) and i-Trace (Tracey Technologies) preoperatively, and at 1 and 3 months after cataract surgery. SIA was analyzed vectorially using the Alpins method.

There was no significant difference in preoperative UCVA or BCVA between the two groups. At 1 month and 3 months after surgery, SIA in group 1 was less than that in group 2, but this difference was not significant. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative change of corneal higher order aberrations in each group at 1 month or 3 months after surgery, and there was no statistically significant difference in corneal higher order aberrations between the two groups preoperatively, at 1 month, or 3 months after surgery.

There was no significant difference in SIA and corneal higher order aberrations between the two groups.