DISTRIBUTION OF AXIAL LENGTH READINGS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT SURGERY

Purpose: To find the axial length distribution in patients undergoing cataract surgery with the comparison between genders and age groups. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Lahore General Hospital & Yaqin Vision Eye Center, Lahore from February 2000 to May 2018. Material and Methods: All patients undergoing routine cataract surgery who were more than 20 years of age were included in the study. Patients with corneal scars were excluded. Biometry readings included K reading, axial length and IOL number in diopters aimed for emmetropia using the SRK-T Formula. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to age, Group V (20-39 years), Group X (40-59 years), Group Y (60-79 years) and Group Z (80-99 years). Moreover the patients were also divided into 6 groups according to Axial length, Group A (20.7-21.5 mm), Group B (21.6-22.5 mm), Group C (22.6-23.5 mm), Group D (23.6-24.5 mm), Group E (24.6-25.5 mm) and Group F (25.6-27.6 mm). Cross tabulation between age groups versus axial length and axial length versus gender was done using SPSS version 20. Results: There were 2146 patients included in the study out of which 1073 were male and 1073 were female patients. The mean axial length of all the patients was 23.36 ± 1 mm. The most common axial length seen in 40.7% of the patients was in the range of 22.6 to 23.5 mm. This was followed by 23.6-24.5 mm and was seen in 26.7% patients. The least common axial length seen in 2.3% patients was in the range of 20.7-21.5 mm. High Hypermetropia (20.721.5 mm) was more common in females and was seen in 80% of the patients. However, High Myopia (25.6-27.6 mm) was more common in males and was seen in 74.6% the patients. Conclusion: In our population High Hypermetropia is common in females while High myopia is common in males. The most common axial length seen is between 22.6-23.5 mm.