Accuracy and reproducibility of partial coherence interferometry versus contact ultrasound biometry

Abstract

AIM: To compare the measurement of anterior segment parameters by partial coherence interferometry(PCI)and contact ultrasonic(US)axial scan(A-scan). The accuracy in predicting postoperative refraction and the reproducibility of each biometry measurement were also estimated in a prospective study of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation.METHODS: Preoperative measurement of anterior segment parameters were prospectively obtained in 137 eyes of 121 subjects with the PCI compared with the US. The postoperative best corrected visual acuity and postoperative refraction were obtained and compared with each biometric method.RESULTS: There was an excellent correlation between PCI and US measurements for the anterior chamber depth(ACD; r=0.823; Pr=0.996; PP1/r2).CONCLUSION: PCI using the IOLMaster provides the more accurate and reliable anterior segment parameters measurement values. A high degree of agreement between US and IOLMaster was noted. The IOLMaster not only has the advantage of performing noncontact examinations, but also produces various additional data simultaneously and may thus obviate the need for multiple examinations.

Keywords

• anterior chamber depth
• axial length
• corneal curvature
• partial coherence interferometry
• contact ultrasonic axial scan.
• cataract