Step 1: Frame this as a surgical-planning cut-off. In an older emmetrope having a presbyopia-correcting IOL, the surgeon must decide whether incisional astigmatism control will suffice.
Step 2: The literature sets the boundary at high astigmatism, meaning more than 3 dioptres. Below it, limbal relaxing incisions usually do the job; above it, a staged laser enhancement (bioptics) is planned.
Step 3: So the magnitude that defines significant pre-existing astigmatism in this scenario is $+3\,D$. The other options either sit safely under the threshold ($+1\,D$, $+2\,D$) or beyond it ($+4\,D$).
Step 4: The threshold value asked for is plus three dioptres.
\[\boxed{+3\,D}\]