Predictability of intraocular lens power calculation in eyes with average axial lengths: optical versus ultrasonic biometry

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the partial coherence interferometry to ultrasound (US)-based biometry in intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in eyes with average axial length (AL). Patients and methods One hundred eyes with AL of 21–24 mm having cataract as the only ocular pathology were included in the study from November 2016 to October 2018. Fifty eyes were subjected to US biometry and 50 eyes were subjected to Zeiss IOL-Master optical biometry followed by IOL power calculation. All patients underwent phacoemulsification by experienced surgeons with intra-bagal implantation of one-piece soft hydrophilic intraocular lens. AL, keratometric reading, anterior chamber depth, and intraocular lens power were compared. Actual postoperative spherical equivalent (SE), mean absolute error, and predicted error were calculated. Results No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the AL, keratometric reading, anterior chamber depth, IOLs power, predicted postoperative SE, and actual postoperative SE (P=0.36, 0.20, 0.57, 0.39, 0.31, and 0.09, respectively). The US group had significantly higher predicted error and mean absolute error than IOL-Master group (P=0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion IOL-Master optical biometry is slightly more accurate than US biometry for intraocular lens power calculation in eyes with average AL, whereas A-scan biometry is still a cost-effective method.

Keywords

• axial length
• partial coherence interferometry
• ultrasound biometry