Change of Corneal Astigmatism with Aging in Koreans with Normal Visual Acuity.

Kim, Chan Su; Kim, Muyan; Kim, Hyun Seung; Lee, Young Chun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2002;43(10):1956-1962.
Published online October 1, 2002.

Change of Corneal Astigmatism with Aging in Koreans with Normal Visual Acuity.

Chan Su Kim, Muyan Kim, Hyun Seung Kim, Young Chun Lee

Department of Ophthalmology, Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University Medical College, Korea. leeyc@cmc.cuk.ac.kr

정상시력을 가진 한국인에서 연령에 따른 각막 난시의 변화

김찬수 ( Chan Su Kim ) , 김무연 ( Mu Yan Kim ) , 김현승 ( Hyun Seung Kim ) , 이영춘 ( Young Chun Lee )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the distribution and change of corneal astigmatism with aging in persons with normal visual acuity. METHODS: We classified 504 subjects (504 eyes) showing good naked vision at least 1.0 from 3 to 83 years into 15 groups with 5 year interval and analyzed corneal astigmatism using refraction and keratometry. RESULTS: With-the-rule astigmatism (WTR) was shown in 98.5% between 3 and 25 years and progressively decreased with aging. In 61 to 65 years' group WTR was 34.1% and against-the-rule astigmatism (ATR) was 36.4%. After then ATR was more predominant. Mean corneal astigmatism was about 1 diopter under 20 years and progressively decreased to 0.5 D at 60 years with aging. CONCLUSIONS: 84.7% of persons with normal visual acuity have corneal astigmatism. WTR was predominant in the youth but progressively decreased with aging to equal balance with ATR in the mid sixties. After then corneal astigmatism would be inclined to against-the-rule. The amount of corneal astigmatism was decreased from about an 1 diopter in twenties to 0.5 diopter in sixties.

Key Words: Against-the-rule;Aging change;Corneal astigmatism;With-the-rule