Analysis of corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates at a teaching hospital in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and quantify the pattern of corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates and to provide information for cataract surgeons and intraocular lens (IOL) manufacturers.


METHODS
Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The datasets of cataract surgery candidates acquired between November 1, 2009, and November 30, 2011, were collected and analyzed. Keratometry values were optically measured by partial coherence interferometry (IOLMaster) before cataract extraction. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to estimate bivariate correlations. The power vector method, J(0) and J(45) values, and linear regression models were used to assess the association between age and astigmatism.


RESULTS
The study evaluated the keratometry values in 1430 eyes (827 patients) with a median age of 75 years (range 16 to 98 years). The corneal astigmatism was 1.00 diopter (D) or higher in 45.45% of eyes. The magnitude of corneal astigmatism was positively correlated with age (ρ = 0.126, P = .000). A trend toward increasing against-the-rule astigmatism with age was found by linear regression models; the per-year increase in age was associated with a J(0) decrease of 0.016 D in right eyes and 0.018 D in left eyes (both P = .000). No association was found between age and J(45).


CONCLUSIONS
Most eyes having corneal astigmatism of 1.00 D or greater could be covered by the range of the cylindrical power of the toric IOLs available on the market. Against-the-rule corneal astigmatism of relatively younger cataract surgery candidates should be managed more aggressively.


BACKGROUND
No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Department of Ophthalmology, Fuzhou the Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Zhao
Z
Guan
Fei
F
Yuan
Yuan-Zhi
YZ
Yuan
Wei-Ran
WR
Niu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult