Posters

Ocular biometric characteristics and corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates: a retrospective study

Poster Details

First Author: F.D'Oria ITALY

Co Author(s):    A. Galeone   P. Puzo   N. Cardascia   G. Alessio           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

We aimed to measure ocular biometric characteristics and the prevalence and nature of corneal astigmatism in cataract patients from South Italy.

Setting:

Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 306 consecutive cataract candidates scheduled for phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation at a single university hospital. Inclusion criteria were cataract and age 40 years or older. Exclusion criteria included present or past corneal disease, previous eye surgery and history of ocular inflammation or trauma. Data on axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometric power (K) and corneal astigmatism (CA) were determined using partial coherence interferometry (Zeiss IOL Master 500; Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany).

Results:

The ocular biometric data of 306 patients (600 phakic eyes) were analyzed, with a mean age of 72.83 ± 8.12 years (range 43 to 90). CA was less than 1.0 D in 361 eyes (60.17%), 1.0 - 1.99 D in 183 eyes (30.5%), 2.0 - 2.99 D in 43 eyes (7.17%) and greater than 3.0 D in 13 eyes (2.16%). The mean values of AL, ACD, K and CA were respectively 23.54 ± 1.53 mm, 3.11 ± 0.47 mm, 44.01 ± 1.47 D and 1 ± 0.72 D. The percentage of eyes with AL> 26 mm was 7.11%.

Conclusions:

About 40% of cataract patients have a preoperative CA > 1 D, 10% > 2 D. These patients may benefit from the implant of a toric IOL, with a minimal impact on workflow compared to routine cataract surgery. CA of cataract surgery candidates can be also treated intraoperatively by performing limbar relaxing incisions, but they are not as precise and predictable as toric IOL. Alternatively, photorefractive keratectomy is a valid option to treat residual refractive error after IOL implantation, but is not universally applicable. The results of the present study show the potential demand for toric IOL in this population.

Financial Disclosure:

None