To assess the changes of corneal astigmatism and higher order aberrations (HOAs) of the anterior and posterior corneal surface after cataract surgery with on-axis clear corneal incision in eyes with-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism and against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism.

This study included 50 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and IOL insertion through a 2.8-mm on-axis clear corneal incision. The eyes were divided into two groups: (1) 26 eyes with WTR astigmatism with a superior incision and (2) 24 eyes with ATR astigmatism with a temporal incision. During the follow-up period, visual acuity was measured, and the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and HOAs of the anterior and posterior corneal surface were measured with Pentacam® (Occlus, Wetzlar, Germany) preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively.

There were no significant differences in UCVA and BCVA between the two groups. HOAs increased in both groups 1 week after surgery, but no significant differences were found between the groups ( p > 0.05). Surgically induced astigmatism was larger in the WTR group than in the ATR group ( p < 0.05). At postoperative 2 months, there were significant differences in HOAs between the two groups, and there were statistically significant differences in HOAs, oblique trefoil at front side, and in HOAs, horizontal coma at rear side ( p < 0.05).

In conclusion, superior incision in eyes with WTR astigmatism resulted in higher SIA compared to temporal incision in eyes with ATR astigmatism. Moreover, HOAs was significantly decreased in eyes with WTR astigmatism with superior incision. Thus, superior incision could be more effective in reducing corneal astigmatism in eyes with WTR astigmatism.