Distribution of keratometry and its determinants in a general population of 6- to 12-year-old children:

Purpose:To determine the distribution of keratometry and its determinants in Iranian school children.Methods:The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 in Shahroud in the north of Iran. The entire rural population of elementary school children was invited to the study. In urban areas, cluster sampling was conducted. Pentacam HR (Oculus Inc., Lynnwood, WA) was used to measure the flat meridian, the steep meridian, and the mean keratometry. Linear regression was used to determine the associated variables with mean keratometry.Results:Of 5620 participated in the study, 5559 children were analyzed after applying the exclusion criteria. Mean keratometry was 43.56 ± 1.96 diopters (D) (95% confidence interval = 43.48–43.64) in the total sample, 43.18 ± 2.23 D (95% confidence interval = 43.09–43.26) in boys, and 44.01 ± 1.46 D (95% confidence interval = 43.95–44.07) in girls (p < 0.001). The highest and lowest mean keratometry was 43.28 ± 1.66 D (95% confidence interval = 43.00–43.55) and 42.89 ±2.70...