Evaluation of the relationship between corneal diameter and lens diameter

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between corneal diameter (white to white) (WTW) and the dimensions of the crystalline lens. SETTING: Private practice, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. METHODS: Human cadaver eyes were oriented to allow caliper measurements of the horizontal and vertical corneal diameters (WTW). Globes were sectioned and reoriented so the horizontal and vertical measurements of the crystalline lens were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean horizontal corneal diameter was 11.46 mm, approximately 0.8 mm greater than the mean vertical corneal diameter of 10.63 mm. The mean horizontal crystalline lens diameter was 9.28 mm, nearly identical to the mean vertical diameter of 9.30 mm. The correlation between the mean corneal diameter and mean lens diameter was weak, although it was significant. There was no correlation between horizontal dimensions. CONCLUSION: It was not possible to predict the dimensions of the human crystalline lens using calipers to measure the WTW corneal diameter.