In 2020, I witnessed some of the worst experiences as this virus killed many and made much of our world physically, emotionally, and economically sick. It has been difficult to observe, and at times I have felt a deep sadness for the world that is tough to fully put into words.
After being forced to close for several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many ophthalmologists had to make adjustments to practices in the clinic and surgery when they reopened. EyeWorld spoke to several surgeons about what they’ve seen in terms of LASIK numbers since reopening, with many noting that they’ve actually seen an uptick in this procedure.
Managing astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery is a weighty topic with many variables. What technology to measure astigmatism—power and axis? How many measurements to take for reliability? How to ensure accuracy and consistency of measurements? What course of correction to take?
Whether astigmatic correction was targeted in cataract surgery or not, there is always a risk for residual astigmatism postop. When to address this astigmatism—and how—depends on several factors, including patient perception, healing time, trust in measurements, and more.
“In the day and age of refractive cataract surgery, optimizing outcomes is extremely important,” said Kathryn Hatch, MD, as she introduced a webinar hosted by the ASCRS Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee earlier this year. “We have increasing patient expectations, and it’s extremely important that we obtain ideal biometry measurements. To do so, we need to pay specific attention to the ocular surface, especially when treating astigmatism and presbyopia.”