Corneal shape of Hong Kong-Chinese

Corneal asphericity (the p-value, p) and apical corneal radius (r0) were calculated for 63 Hong Kong-Chinese (39 male and 24 female), using the Topographic Modeling System (TMS-1). The values of p and r0in, and between, the two principal meridians were compared, and the effects of refractive error and gender were also investigated. The mean ± SD r0and p along the flattest meridian of the right eye were 7.82 ± 0.26 mm and 0.78 ± 0.12 respectively. The mean ± SD r0and p along the steepest meridian of the right eye were 7.64 ± 0.26 mm and 0.83 ± 0.15 respectively. Meridional variations were found in r0and in p. There was no correlation between p and r0along the two principal meridians. p was not significantly correlated to the refractive error but r0was. Our results agree with previous findings that while males have longer r0than females, their p are not significantly different. (C) 2000 The College of Optometrists.