The role of peripheral ocular length and peripheral corneal radius of curvature in determining refractive error

Alhussain, Saleh H.A., Mallen, Edward, Strang, Niall C. and Jonuscheit, Sven 2022. The role of peripheral ocular length and peripheral corneal radius of curvature in determining refractive error. Journal of Optometry 15 (2) , pp. 129-137. 10.1016/j.optom.2021.02.001

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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to extend the knowledge of peripheral biometric component and its relationship to refractive status in healthy individuals by determining the correlation between peripheral ocular length to peripheral corneal radius ratio and the refractive error. Methods This prospective study was conducted on thirty-three healthy adult participants. Refractive error was assessed objectively and subjectively and recorded as the mean spherical equivalent. Central and peripheral ocular lengths at 30° were assessed using partial coherence interferometry under dilation with 1% tropicamide. Central and peripheral corneal radius of curvature was assessed using Scheimpflug topography. Peripheral ocular lengths at 30° were paired with peripheral corneal curvatures at the incident points of the IOLMaster beam (3.8 mm away from corneal apex) superiorly, inferiorly, temporally and nasally to calculate the peripheral ocular length-peripheral corneal radius ratio. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the distribution and spread of the data. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to present the association between biometric and refractive variables. Results Refractive error was negatively correlated with the axial length-central corneal radius ratio (r = −0.91; p < 0.001) and with 30° peripheral ocular length-peripheral corneal radius ratio in all four meridians (r ≤ −0.76; p < 0.001). The strength of the correlation was considerably lower when only axial length or peripheral ocular lengths were used. Conclusion Using the ratios of peripheral ocular length-peripheral corneal radius to predict refractive error is more effective than using peripheral corneal radius or peripheral ocular length alone.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Optometry and Vision Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1888-4296
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 September 2026
Date of Acceptance:	10 February 2021
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2026 14:17
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189321

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