The Influence of Age and Gender on Ocular Biometrics and Corneal Astigmatism
Amin Zand1 *, Ali Sharifi1
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shafa Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract: This study aimed to assess the influence of age and gender on ocular biometric values and corneal astigmatism features in individuals undergoing phacoemulsification surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
Methods: This retrospective study measured ocular biometrics and corneal keratometric astigmatism using the IOLMaster 700 instrument prior to phacoemulsification surgery and IOL implantation. Descriptive measurements of biometric values and keratometric cylinder data were analyzed for correlations with age and gender.
Results: Analysis included ocular biometric and keratometric values from 3385 eyes of 3385 patients (mean age 66.43 ± 10.46 years). Lens thickness (LT), mean keratometry, and corneal astigmatism were positively correlated with age. Conversely, axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and horizontal white-to-white (WTW) corneal diameter exhibited negative correlations with age. Increasing age led to a significant shift towards against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism (all Ps ≤ 0.001). Mean keratometry was significantly lower in males than females (P < 0.001). AL, ACD, LT, and WTW corneal diameter were higher in males compared to females (all Ps ≤ 0.001). Corneal astigmatism types differed significantly between genders (P < 0.001), with ATR being more prevalent among males (52.9%) and with-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism having the highest prevalence among females (40.3%).
Conclusion: Mean keratometry and LT increased, while AL and ACD decreased with age. Males exhibited higher values for AL, ACD, and LT, whereas females had steeper corneas. Corneal astigmatism increased with age, primarily of the ATR type.
