Characterization of posterior corneal astigmatism in a population with keratoconus

Background: The curvature of the anterior corneal surface is traditionally used as a surrogate to estimate corneal astigmatism. In recent years, increasing importance has been attributed to posterior corneal astigmatism as an indicator. Our aim is to characterize the posterior corneal surface in a population with keratoconus and investigate its predictive value to keratoconus progression. Methods: Retrospective study from a tertiary care centre (Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal). Eighty-five patients (85 eyes) with keratoconus were included. All patients had two tomographical examinations >= 12 months apart (Pentacam HR). Vector analysis was used to calculate anterior (ACA), posterior (PCA), and total corneal astigmatism (TCA). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the predictive value of PCA to keratoconus progression, adjusting for ACA, TCA and several tomographical indices. Results: Study participants had a mean age of 32 (SD = 12.5) years. Mean tomographical keratoconus classification was 2.16 (SD = 0.95), with a mean Kmax of 55.8D (SD = 7.8). Mean power of PCA, ACA and TCA was, respectively, -0.88D (SD = 0.84), 3.74D (SD = 2.36), and 3.06D (SD = 2.01) and its centroids were 0.44D x 15o, 1.65D x 112o, and 1.61D x 106o, respectively. The power of PCA was >= 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00D in 75.3%, 32.9%, and 3.5% of patients, respectively, inducing against-the-rule astigmatism in 60.0% of patients. On average, ACA overestimated TCA in 0.35D x 151o (p < .01). ACA and TCA were highly correlated but showed a lack of agreement for clinical purposes. A predictive role for PCA was excluded. Conclusions: In this population with keratoconus, PCA contributed substantially to TCA. However, PCA was not a valuable predictor for disease progression.