Refractive errors in Filipino eyes in a single-center study population

ABSTRACT

Objective We determined the frequency of refractive errors among Filipino patients undergoing refractive or cataract screening at an ambulatory eye-care center, correlated them with demographic and ophthalmic variables, and compared refractive and keratometric astigmatism. Methods Clinical records of 666 consecutive patients who had optical interferometry were reviewed and the demographic and clinical parameters obtained were subjected to statistical analyses. Results The mean axial length (AL) was 24.43 ± 1.56 mm, significantly shorter among females (p < 0.001). Axial length (AL) was also inversely correlated with age (r = –0.50). Mean sphere was –1.3 ± 3.4D, and correlated with age (r = 0.57); younger age groups had higher negative values. Myopia was the major refractive-error type (90 to 100%) in the 17- to 30-year-old age bracket. Hyperopia was the predominant refractive error (50 to 75%) among the elderly. The mean keratometry reading was 44 ± 1.5D. Females had steeper K readings than males (p = 0.000). Refractive astigmatism was observed in 47.88% and keratometric astigmatism in 71.7%. Against-the-rule (ATR) was the prevalent type (46.1%) in refractive astigmatism and with-the-rule (WTR) (59.1%) in keratometric astigmatism. Conclusion In the older population, AL was shorter and hyperopia was more prevalent; in the younger population, myopia was more prevalent. Astigmatism did not differ between gender groups but differed among age groups. WTR astigmatism was more prevalent in the younger age group and ATR in the elderly.