Ocular Biometric Data and Prevalence of Corneal Astigmatism in Patients’ Candidate for Cataract Surgery

Purpose: To present and analyze the biometric data and the prevalence of corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates.Methods: Ocular biometric and keratometric values were measured before surgery in patients having cataract extraction. Descriptive statistics of biometric and keratometric cylinder data were analyzed and correlated by sex and age ranges. Results: Ocular biometric and keratometric data from 2084 eyes of 2084 patients (mean age 66.43 years 10.61 [SD]; range 19 to 95 years) were analyzed. The mean values were as follows: Corneal astigmatism, 0.89 0.69 D,; Mean corneal keratometry, 44.28 1.40 D ; Central corneal thickness, 534 35 ; ACD, 3.11 0.39 mm; Lensthickness, 4.49 0.49mm and AL, 23.35 mm 1.17 (SD). 79% of eyes had corneal astigmatism lesser than 1.250 diopters (D), 14%of eyes greater than 1.250 D and 7.0% of eyes greater than 2.0 D. Astigmatism was with the rule (WTR) in 48.4% of eyes, against the rule in 32.3%, and oblique in 19.3%. High astigmatism was predominantly WTR. The ACD and axis of astigmatism were correlated with age. There was no correlation between age and sex with the amount of corneal astigmatism. Conclusion: Corneal astigmatism less than 1.25 D was present in most cataract surgery candidates; it was higher in about 21%, with slight differences between the various age ranges. This information is useful for surgeons to make decision that which IOLs provide the most effective power range and how to manage the coexisting corneal astigmatism.