What is the purpose of keratometry?

Keratometry serves a vital role in assessing the shape and curvature of the cornea. By measuring the anterior surface of the cornea, keratometry provides crucial information about corneal curvature, which is essential for several reasons. It is particularly important in fitting contact lenses, as the curvature affects how the lenses will sit on the eye. Additionally, understanding the corneal shape helps in diagnosing refractive errors like astigmatism and is also a significant consideration in pre-operative assessments for various eye surgeries, including cataract surgery and corneal transplants.

While evaluating the retina, assessing eye pressure, and diagnosing cataracts are important components of comprehensive eye examinations, they do not relate directly to keratometry's specific function, which is exclusively focused on measuring the curvature and shape of the cornea. Thus, the core purpose of keratometry is accurately reflected in the measurement of corneal curvature.