Keratometric index obtained by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 17;10(4):e0122441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122441. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the keratometric indices calculated based on parameters obtained by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).

Methods: The ratio of anterior corneal curvature to posterior corneal curvature (Ratio) and keratometric index (N) were calculated within central 3 mm zone with the RTVue FD-OCT (RTVue, Optovue, Inc.) in 186 untreated eyes, 60 post-LASIK/PRK eyes, and 39 keratoconus eyes. The total corneal powers were calculated using different keratometric indices: Kcal based on the mean calculated keratometric index, K1.3315 calculated by the keratometric index of 1.3315, and K1.3375 calculated by the keratometric index of 1.3375. In addition, the total corneal powers based on Gaussian optics formula (Kactual) were calculated.

Results: The means for Ratio in untreated controls, post-LASIK/PRK group and keratoconus group were 1.176 ± 0.022 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.172-1.179), 1.314 ± 0.042 (95%CI, 1.303-1.325) and 1.229 ± 0.118 (95%CI, 1.191-1.267), respectively. And the mean calculated keratometric index in untreated controls, post-LASIK/PRK group and keratoconus group were 1.3299 ± 0.00085 (95%CI, 1.3272-1.3308), 1.3242 ± 0.00171 (95%CI, 1.3238-1.3246) and 1.3277 ± 0.0046 (95%CI, 1.3263-1.3292), respectively. All the parameters were normally distributed. The differences between Kcal and Kactual, K1.3315 and Kactual, and K1.3375 and Kactual were 0.00 ± 0.11 D, 0.21 ± 0.11 D and 0.99 ± 0.12 D, respectively, in untreated controls; -0.01 ± 0.20 D, 0.85 ± 0.18 D and 1.56 ± 0.16 D, respectively, in post-LASIK/PRK group; and 0.03 ± 0.67 D, 0.56 ± 0.70 D and 1.40 ± 0.76 D, respectively, in keratoconus group.

Conclusion: The calculated keratometric index is negatively related to the ratio of anterior corneal curvature to posterior corneal curvature in untreated, post-LASIK/PRK, and keratoconus eyes, respectively. Using the calculated keratometric index may improve the prediction accuracies of total corneal powers in untreated controls, but not in post-LASIK/PRK and keratoconus eyes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cornea / physiopathology
  • Cornea / surgery*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Keratoconus / physiopathology
  • Keratoconus / surgery*
  • Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ
  • Middle Aged
  • Photorefractive Keratectomy
  • Refraction, Ocular / physiology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81300807); Foundation of Wenzhou City Science & Technology Bureau (Y20120176, Y20130118); the National Science and Technology Ministry (2012BAI08B04); the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province (2012KYB135); and the Science Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Education Department (Y201223147). Authors AS, XC and SR are employed by SynsLaser Kirurgi AS. SynsLaser Kirurgi AS provided support in the form of salaries for authors AS, XC and SR, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.