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This abstract is assigned to session AOB Poster session1

Title	Surgically induced corneal astigmatism after fornix-based trabeculectomy
Abstract Nr.	1035

Purpose	To evaluate the degree of surgically induced corneal astigmatism (SIA) following trabeculectomy and to investigate the relation of SIA with long-term reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP).
Methods	Fourty-four eyes of 44 patients undergoing fornix-based trabeculectomy were included in this single center, prospective trial. IOP, visual acuity (VA), corneal astigmatism, medication use and adverse events were recorded preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 and 18 months postoperatively. Changes in corneal astigmatism were analysed using vector analysis. Pre- and postoperative parameters were compaired using one-sample t-test. Correlation between SIA and IOP were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients.
Results	Vector analysis of corneal astigmatism revealed a significant increase in with-the-rule corneal astigmatism, reaching a maximum at 1 month postoperatively (1.15 ± 0.8 D, P<0.001) followed by a gradual decline (0.87 ± 0.8 D, P <0.001 at month 18). SIA at 1 month showed a borderline significant correlation with IOP reduction at 3 months (r=0.315, P = 0.051). SIA at 3,6 and 18 months did not correlate with reduction in IOP (P>0.05). After a transient decline at 1 month after surgery, VA recovered to preoperative values at month 3 without need for adjustment of the optical correction.
Conclusion	Fornix-based trabeculectomy induces statistically significant with-the-rule astigmatism without affecting long term VA. In our population, maximum SIA, measured at 1 month postoperatively, showed a borderline significant correlation with reduction of IOP at 3 months postoperatively.

Authors 1

Last name	VAN KEER
Initials	K
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	Willekens
Initials	K
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 3

Last name	Abegão Pinto
Initials	L
Department	Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon University
City	Lisbon

Authors 4

Last name	Delbeke
Initials	H
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 5

Last name	Vandewalle
Initials	E
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 6

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven