| Abstract: | Notwithstanding the advent of ultrasound, there remain clinical difficulties in measuring axial length. One alternative method, using a radius of rotation (r) of the eye, has been proposed. However, there are deficiencies in the technique and doubt concerning its reliability. In our pilot study we developed simple slit lamp techniques for measuring r. For two groups of 40 and 14 adult eyes r correlated significantly (p <0.01) with axial lengths measured with ultrasound. Furthermore, r provided a better index of axial length than low degree ametropia. However, the clinical use of r remains in doubt: Axial lengths of 17 eyes were at least 1 mm more or less than the value of r would indicate. Nevertheless, with refinements to the techniques established in this study, further research may indicate more precisely the nature of the relationship between r and axial length. |
