Correlation between keratometric and refractive astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes.

PURPOSE: To determine the correlation between refractive and keratometric astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes.

SETTING

Vissum Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

DESIGN

Case series.

METHODS

Consecutive eyes that had phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation during the first quarter of 2003 were evaluated. The refractive and keratometric astigmatism were compared 2 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The mean postoperative keratometric astigmatism (0.91 diopter [D] ± 0.67 [SD]) in the 121 eyes was statistically significantly higher than the mean postoperative refractive astigmatism (0.64 ± 0.72 D) (P<.0001). Regression analysis found a significant correlation between the refractive and keratometric errors of the J0 component (P<.001, r(2) = 0.29) and between the refractive and keratometric errors of the J45 component (P<.001, r(2) = 0.36)

CONCLUSION

Keratometric astigmatism was responsible for about 30% of the refractive astigmatism in pseudophakic eyes. Other undetermined factors induce astigmatism in these cases.