Biometry and corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates from Southern China

PURPOSE: To analyze biometry data and corneal astigmatism in cataract candidates from Southern China. SETTING: Guangdong Eye Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional hospital-based study. METHODS: The axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), horizontal corneal diameter (white to white [WTW]), and corneal power (keratometry [K], flat K, steep K) were measured using the IOLMaster system. Ocular biometric data were collected and analyzed between 2007 and 2011. RESULTS: The study comprised 6750 eyes of 4561 consecutive cataract candidates with a mean age of 70.4 years +/- 10.5 (SD). The mean AL, ACD, and WTW were 24.07 +/- 2.14 mm, 3.01 +/- 0.57 mm, and 11.68 +/- 0.45 mm, respectively. All values were statistically significantly greater in men than in women (P < .001) and had a significant trend toward a decrease as age increased (P < .001). The mean K value was 44.13 +/- 1.63 D. The median corneal astigmatism was 0.90 D (interquartile range, 0.54-1.43). Corneal astigmatism of 1.00 D or greater was found in 2963 eyes (43.9%), and 3590 eyes (53.2%) had against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. The axis of corneal astigmatism turned in the ATR direction with age. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides reference data for cataract patients from Southern China. The profiles of ocular biometric data and corneal astigmatism can help improve surgical procedures and intraocular lens design for the Chinese population.