Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the correlation between the eye axial length and the corneal biometric parameters in a normal population.
Methods: :
We prospectively recorded axial length, ultrasonic pachymetry and corneal topography (Orbscan) of 250 healthy eyes (excluding high myopia) of 125 patients aged from 10 to 80 years. Three refractive subgroups (hyperopia, emmetropia, myopia) were defined according to the subjective spherical equivalent (emmetropia -1D to +1D). Corneal biometric parameters were compared in these 3 groups and were correlated with the axial length.
Results: :
No significant correlation was found between axial length and the corneal biometric parameters (i.e., pachymetry, anterior corneal curvature, corneal cylinder, corneal diameter, asphericity, irregularity, irregular astigmatism, location of thinnest point…)(r≤0.09 p≥0.07). The three subgroups were not significantly different for the corneal biometric parameters (p>0.13) except for the corneal curvature (hyperopia, 42.89D; emmetropia, 43.69D, myopia, 44.37D; p<0.001). Axial length showed a strong correlation with subjective spherical equivalent (r=-0.82, p0.14).
Conclusions: :
Although corneal curvature is relevant to spherical refraction, axial length does not seem to have a significant influence on the biometric parameters of the cornea.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • anatomy