Comparing Refractive and Scheimpflug-image Based Parameters between Right and Left Eyes and between Dominant and Non-dominant Eyes Related to Handedness

Aim: Our aim was to compare refractive and anatomical parameters between right and left eyes and between the dominant and non-dominant eyes of right- and left-handed patients.

Study Design: Clinical observational study.

Methodology: Refractometry, optical biometry and Scheimpflug photography were performed in 163, healthy subjects (138 right-handed, 25 left-handed). A hole-in-the-card test was used to determine sighting dominance. The parameters were compared in three groups: differences between the right and left eyes; differences between the dominant and non-dominant eyes; differences between the right-dominant and left-dominant eyes.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.42±20.60 years. Among the right-handed patients, 77 were right-eye dominant and 61 were left-eye dominant. Significant differences were found regarding all observed parameters, excluding refraction data between the right and left eyes of the right-handed patients. Regarding dominant vs. non-dominant eyes of right-handed patients, only some data showed statistically significant differences. We could not find any significant differences in parameters of the left-handed group.

Conclusions: Significant differences were found in Scheimpflug-derived anatomical parameters of the left and right eyes of right-handed persons. However, when comparing the dominant and non-dominant eyes, our results show only isolated differences. Sighthing dominance plays a role in ophthalmology, but this is probably not related to anatomical differences.