Prevalence of corneal astigmatism in patients having routine cataract surgery at a teaching hospital in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze and quantify the pattern of corneal astigmatism in patients awaiting cataract surgery and to establish the demand for toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) in a hospital unit.

Setting: Singleton Hospital Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust, Swansea, United Kingdom.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Keratometric measurements of all patients attending the preassessment clinic over a 4-month period were prospectively collected and analyzed.

Results: The study comprised 1230 eyes of 746 patients with a mean age of 75.54 years ± 0.71 (SD). The corneal astigmatism was 0.50 diopter (D) or less in 301 eyes (24.47%), 1.50 D or less in 978 eyes (79.50%), more than 2.50 D in 57 eyes (4.61%), and 3.00 D or more in 24 eyes (1.93%).

Conclusions: Of patients attending for routine cataract surgery at a single center, 497 (40.41%) had more than 1.00 D of astigmatism. The results can help hospitals analyze the demand for and cost of using toric IOLs in patients with corneal astigmatism.

Financial disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.