1. Characteristics of participants.
| Study | Country | Number of people (eyes) | Mean age in years (range) | % Men | Level of corneal astigmatism in inclusion criteria in dioptres | Mean preoperative corneal astigmatism in dioptres | Mean preoperative astigmatism in dioptres |
| Dong 2015 | China | 66 (84) | 72 (60–79) | 55% | 1.5–4.0 | NR | NR |
| Freitas 2014 | Brazil | 31 (62) | 69 (51–84) | 39% | 0.75–2.50 | 1.36 (range 0.75–2.5) | NR |
| Gangwani 2014 | UK | 30 (60)a | 75 (NR) | 48% | 0.75–2.50 | 1.75 (max 2.58) | NR |
| Hirnschall 2014 | UK | 30 (60)a | 71 (NR) | 43% | 1.0–2.5 | 1.57 (SD 0.44) | NR |
| Lam 2016 | China (Hong Kong) | 60 (60) | 66 (NR) | 42% | ≤ 3.0 | –1.31 | 1.66 |
| Leon 2015 | Italy | 102 (102) | 70 (53–88) | 47% | 1.0 to 2.0 | 1.75 | 1.75 |
| Liu 2014 | China | 54 (54) | 70 (NR) | 50% | 0.75–2.5 | NR | 1.58 |
| Mingo‐Botin 2010 | Spain | 40 (40) | 74 (44–90) | NR | 1.00–3.00 | 1.78 | 2.03 |
| Nanavaty 2017 | UK | 70 (70) | 74 (50–89) | 43% | > 0.75 to < 2.5 | 1.26 | NR |
| Titiyal 2014 | India | 34 (34) | 61 (NR) | NR | 1.25–3.0 | 2.10 | 1.95 |
| Total | — | 517 (626) | Median 71 | Median 45% | — | — | — |
aWithin‐person study. max: maximum; NR: not reported; SD: standard deviation.