Given the K readings of 41.87@055 and 43.62@145, what optical condition is represented?

The optical condition indicated by the K readings of 41.87@055 and 43.62@145 is oblique astigmatism. This diagnosis is drawn from the specific values and orientations of the K readings, which represent the corneal curvature measurements taken along different meridians.

In this case, the two readings reflect different radii of curvature for the two meridians, with one being significantly flatter than the other and oriented at different angles (055 and 145 degrees). Oblique astigmatism arises when the principal meridians of the cornea are not aligned with the vertical or horizontal axes. Here, since the meridians are oriented at angles away from the standard axes, it leads to the classification of this astigmatism as oblique.

Contrastingly, with-the-rule astigmatism and against-the-rule astigmatism occur when the steepest and flattest meridians are aligned either vertically (with-the-rule) or horizontally (against-the-rule), which is not the case here. Therefore, the unique orientation indicated by the K readings is critical for identifying it distinctly as oblique astigmatism.