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Limbal Relaxing Incision (LRI) is a surgical technique used to treat astigmatism. It is often combined with cataract surgery to reduce pre-existing astigmatism. The result is better vision without glasses.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is oval rather than round, that is shaped like a football rather than a basketball. Most astigmatic corneas have two curves—a steeper curve and a flatter curve. This causes light to focus on more that one point in the eye, resulting in blurred vision at a distance or near.

Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgically. The most common surgeries used to correct astigmatism are astigmatic keratotomy (procedures that involve placing a microscopic incision on the eye) and LASIK. The objective of these procedures is to reshape the cornea so that it becomes more spherical or uniformly curved.

LRIs are incisions that are placed on the periphery of the cornea (called the limbus) resulting in a cornea that is more rounded. The astigmatism is thus reduced and uncorrected vision improved.

The procedure can be completed in a few seconds after numbing the eye with anesthetic drops. There is usually little if any post-operative discomfort. The procedure is very safe and is not associated with glare or starburst. Furthermore, the cornea is usually stable within a few weeks, indicating that visual fluctuations have typically resolved by that time.

Limbal relaxing incisions have gained widespread acceptance amongst cataract surgeons, resulting in better post-operative vision without glasses. The procedure can also be used outside of cataract surgery in individuals whose primary refractive error is astigmatism.

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