Corneal biomechanical properties and their correlates with refractive error.

PURPOSE

The aim was to study the link between refractive error and corneal biomechanical properties.

METHODS

Corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor were measured using the Ocular Response Analyser in 117 participants. The spherical equivalent refractive error of the participants ranged between -9.00 and +3.00 D.

RESULTS

Corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor showed a considerable degree of variability between individuals. Corneal hysteresis was not found to correlate significantly with refractive error (p = 0.82). Corneal resistance factor showed a weak but significant correlation with spherical equivalent refractive error (r(2) = 0.04; p = 0.03), with myopic participants exhibiting a higher corneal resistance factor compared with non-myopes.

CONCLUSIONS

Refractive error accounted for four per cent of the variance in corneal resistance factor measurements, indicating that patients with mild to moderate myopia have higher corneal resistance compared with non-myopes.