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

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.