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Prevalence and characteristics of oblique astigmatism

Eye volume 37, pages 3174–3179 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To examine the incidence and characteristics of eyes with oblique astigmatism stratified by meridian, age, sex, and eye side (left to right).

Methods

One thousand eyes of 1000 patients with oblique corneal astigmatism underwent videokeratographic examination and was classified into 4 meridian categories: (1) 31°–45°, (2) 46°–59°, (3) 121°–135°, and (4) 136°–149°. Amounts of regular and irregular astigmatism, and the vertical/horizontal (Rx) and oblique astigmatism components (Ry) decomposed using vector analysis were compared among the 4 categories and age groups, and between sexes and eye sides.

Results

Incidences of the 4 meridian categories were similar and did not differ significantly among age groups or between sexes. The incidence was significantly greater in eyes in meridian categories 1 and 2 in the left eye and categories 3 and 4 in the right eye, and significantly greater in men in their 40 s and 50 s and in women in their 70 s and 80 s (P < 0.0001). The mean regular astigmatism, asymmetry and higher-order irregularity components, and Rx and absolute Ry significantly increased with age (P ≤ 0.0372). The mean regular and irregular astigmatism, and absolute Rx and Ry did not differ significantly among the 4 categories, or between sexes or left and right eyes.

Conclusions

The incidence of oblique astigmatism was significantly greater in the temporal side meridians, and the incidence in women increased with age. The degree of oblique astigmatism increased with age, with an increase in irregular astigmatism.

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Fig. 1: Schema of the 4 meridian categories of oblique astigmatism and comparison of the incidence of eyes with oblique astigmatism among the 4 meridian categories.
Fig. 2: Comparison of magnitude of regular astigmatism, and asymmetry and higher-order irregularity astigmatism components among the 5 age groups.
Fig. 3: Comparison of vertical/horizontal astigmatism components (Rx; A) and absolute value of oblique astigmatism components (Absolute Ry; B) among the 5 age groups.
Fig. 4: Double-angle plot analysis of the change in the oblique and vertical/horizontal astigmatism components with age.
Fig. 5: Comparison of the ratio of eyes with oblique astigmatism between men and women among the 5 age groups.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Koji Yonemoto, PhD (Ryukyu University) for statistical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hayashi Eye Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan

    Ken Hayashi, Koichi Uno, Shin-ichi Manabe & Akira Hirata

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  1. Ken Hayashi
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  2. Koichi Uno
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  3. Shin-ichi Manabe
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  4. Akira Hirata
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Contributions

KH; study conception, study design, data analysis/interpretation of data, and writing and revising of the manuscript. KU; data acquisition and final approval. SM; data acquisition and final approval. AH; study conception, study design, data analysis/interpretation of data, and final approval.

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Correspondence to Ken Hayashi.

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Hayashi, K., Uno, K., Manabe, Si. et al. Prevalence and characteristics of oblique astigmatism. Eye 37, 3174–3179 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02470-7

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