Keratometry using hand-held and automated keratometers with and without speculum in Indian pediatric cataract – A comparative study

Abstract

To study the keratometry of Indian pediatric eyes, the effect of speculum on keratometry reading, the concordance of hand held and automated keratometry and the effect of unilateral and bilateral cataract on keratometry and IOL power calculation. This was conducted as a cross- sectional observational study on 101 eyes of children in the age range of 41 post-conceptional weeks to 144 months. All cooperative patients were subject to automated keratometry followed by keratometry using hand held keratometer with and without speculum. Hand held keratometer with and without speculum documented significantly increased average K as well as astigmatism and decreased calculated IOL power when compared to automated keratometry (p<0.01). No significant difference in K readings was observed between unilateral and bilateral cataracts and among males and females (p>0.05). As the age increased, astigmatism increased significantly (R=0.07; p=0.007) whereas no such correlation was observed for keratometry (p>0.05). Hand held keratometry offers the convenience of obtaining accurate keratometry, astigmatism and IOL power measurements in children.