Corneal curvature analysis in 148 infant eyes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics of infant corneal curvature and the feasibility of handheld keratometer for infant corneal measurement. Methods A cross-sectional study. The corneal curvature was measured by a handheld keratometer in infants under 3 years old who visited the ophthalmology auxiliary examination department of Shanghai Xinhua Hospital during September 2014 to June 2015. Excluding retinal detachment and anterior segment abnormalities, data of 148 eyes of 95 children were analyzed. Results The average keratometry and corneal astigmatism were 44.07±2.02D and 2.25±1.41D, 74%(110/148)of which showed with-the-rule astigmatism. The aver-age keratometry and corneal astigmatism in normal eyes and congenital disease eyes without retinal detachment showed no significant difference between groups(P =0.474, P =0.165), wherein the data of ROP group were the greatest. The average ketatometry(46.07 ± 2.24D)and corneal astigmatism(3.20±1.71D)in group under 3 months were significantly higher compared to other age groups(P = 0.007, P =0.014), while there showed no statistical difference within other age groups with the aver-age keratometry of 43.85±1.87D and corneal astigmatism of 2.14±1.33D(P >0.05). Neither statistical difference was found between female and male, right eyes and left eyes, or paired t-test between two eyes of the same individual(P >0.05). Conclusions The variation of corneal curvature in children under 3 years old is large. In infants less than 3 months, the ketatometry and corneal astigmatism are especially higher. Hand held keratometer could be a useful tool for accurate measurement of corneal curvature in infants. Key words: Handheld keratometer; Mean keratometry; Corneal astigmatism; Infant