biometry
Meaning of biometry: Biometry refers to statistical analysis of health data in research, and separately, in ophthalmology and obstetrics, to direct physical measurement of body structures.
Definition of biometry
Biometry, in health research, is the science of collecting and analyzing biologic or health related data using statistical methods, helping investigators identify patterns in disease occurrence or evaluate how a treatment performs across a population.
Biometry is also used in a more direct, physical sense in certain specialties. In ophthalmology, biometry refers to measuring the eye's structures, including its length, before cataract surgery to help calculate the proper power of a replacement lens. In obstetrics, fetal biometry refers to measuring the size of the developing fetus during an ultrasound, using measurements such as head circumference and limb length to help assess growth.
Biometry is also called biometrics or biostatistics when used in its statistical sense, though the term's meaning as a direct physical measurement, as used in ophthalmology and obstetrics, is a distinct and equally common use within clinical practice.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Ocular biometry was performed to calculate the appropriate lens power before cataract surgery.
Good to know
Biometry can mean either the statistical analysis of health data or the direct physical measurement of a structure such as the eye or a developing fetus, and clinical context determines which sense applies.