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Background and Aim: There are three methods for cataract extraction, extracapsular, intracapsular and phacoemulsification. The purpose of this study is determination of visual acuity and astigmatism before and after phaco and ECCE method and comparison of these two methods. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the all of cataract surgery records investigated that were belong to one surgeon in 2006-2007. They were 100 phacoemulsification and 34 extra capsular cataract extraction. The data were analyzed in SPSS 14 using independent and paired t-test. Results: The mean of visual acuity before and after phaco and ECCE showed a considerable difference (P< 0.001). The mean of astigmatism before and after phaco did not show any difference (P=0.7), But for ECCE did (P<0.001). The comparison of astigmatism and visual acuity after phaco and ECCE showed a considerable statistical difference (P< 0.001). Conclusions: The result of this study showed that recovery rate of visual acuity was faster in phaco than ECCE and induced astigmatism after surgery had been lower for phaco than ECCE technique.

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Aims: Refractive surgery is considered as one of the methods of refractive defects’ correction. Cornea refractive surgery techniques can cause correction of refractive defects through making some changes in the corneal’s curvature, thickness and shape factor. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of refractive surgery on corneal base thickness and curvature as well as visual acuity.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, 38 patients within the age range of 18 to 48 years old, who went to the Zahedan Alzahra Hospital for refractive surgery, were randomly selected. Refreactive defect was determined by retinoscopy method using cycloplegic drug for each patient. In the subsequent referrals of patients, which were a day, week, month, three months and 6 months after the surgery, the visual acuity of each patient was measured again. By collection of data in SPSS 15.5 software, they were analyzed using paired T-test, Pearson correlation and repeated ANOVA statistical tests.

Results: A significant difference was observed between the mean of visual acuity at different times after surgery. Likewise, a significant difference was observed between the thickness and refractive power of corneal at five points under study before surgery and 6 months after the surgery. In myopia, myopic astigmatism and hyperopy groups, there was no significant difference between corneal thicknesses at five studied points. However, there was a significant difference between the corneal powers in the given five spots.

Conclusion: Mean visual acuity improves after surgery over time and visual acuity with the presurgery correction is higher compared with that of postsurgery.