Global metrics on ocular biometry: representative averages and standard deviations across ten countries from four continents

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We provide global averages and standard deviations for ocular biometry—axial length (AL), corneal radius of curvature (CR), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), white to white (WTW), and central corneal thickness (CT). We hope a better understanding of normal and abnormal values will help clinicians gain further insight into their surgical outcomes, especially for off-target eyes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE database using keywords “axial length, corneal power, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, white to white, and corneal thickness.” We included studies that reported averages and standard deviations on eye biometry for at least 1300 eyes. Global weighted averages and standard deviations were calculated using the Cochrane method. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included, originating from Asia (Japan, Singapore, Myanmar, Iran, South Korea, China), Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal), Australia, and North America (United States). Global ocular biometry metrics were: AL—23.49 mm ± 1.35 mm, CR—7.69 mm ± 0.28 mm, ACD—3.10 mm ± 0.47 mm, WTW—11.80 mm ± 0.42 mm, LT—4.37 mm ± 0.43 mm, and CT—544 μm ± 38 μm. Total eyes per value ranged from 19,538 to 90,814. CONCLUSIONS: We report global ocular biometry averages and standard deviations. No eyes were from studies in Africa or South America, highlighting the need to publish eye biometry data from these continents. We hope that promoting a deeper understanding of biometry values will help clinicians gain insight into surgical outcomes and drive innovations in lens calculations.