Randomized double-masked comparative study of intraocular pressure and wound status between eyes immediately after scleral tunnel incision and clear corneal incision cataract surgery

INTERVENTION: Phacoemulsification surgery using scleral tunnel incision with 2.4 mm in length in unilateral eyes of 64 enrolled patients Phacoemulsification surgery using clear corneal incision with 2.4 mm in length in fellow eyes of 64 enrolled patients CONDITION: Cataract PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1) Longitudinal changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) using rebound tonometer after cataract surgery preoperatively, at the conclusion of surgery; and at 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes postoperatively.; 2) Wound structure at 30 minutes postoperatively using the anterior segment‐optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) SECONDARY OUTCOME: 3) Wound leakage at 30 minutes after surgery examined using the Seidel test; 4) Flare intensity at 45 minutes after surgery determined using the flare meter INCLUSION CRITERIA: All consecutive patients who were scheduled for bilateral cataract surgery at the Hayashi Eye Hospital from May 10, 2013. Bilateral eyes of 64 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: A) 32 patients who were to undergo a 2.4‐mm scleral tunnel incision cataract surgery in the right eye and 2.4‐mm clear corneal incision in the left eye, or B) 32 patients who were to undergo a 2.4‐mm scleral tunnel incision cataract surgery in the left eye and 2.4‐mm clear corneal incision in the right eye.