Comparative Analysis of Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography and Partial Coherence Interferometry Biometers in the Prediction of Cataract Surgery Refractive Outcomes

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of pre-operative corneal measurements obtained with four devices, and the refractive outcomes of two optical biometers. SETTING: Private practice. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Data taken from biometric measurements on 299 consecutive eyes prior to cataract surgery were retrospectively analyzed using the Argos SS-Optical Biometer and the Lenstar LS900 PCI optical biometer. As part of the standard cataract surgery pre-operative exam, patients also underwent placido disk topography and Scheimpflug tomography. Keratometry, anterior chamber depth, corneal diameter, pupil diameter, central corneal thickness and axial length were all measured. The comparable measurements were compared. Finally, for those eyes where cataract surgery was performed, the post-operative refractive results were compared to the predictive results of the two biometers. RESULTS: The SS-OCT Argos was able to measure all eyes, while five eyes could not be measured with the Lenstar LS900 PCI. Axial length measurements were performed only with the Argos and Lenstar devices. The eyes that could not be measured by the Lenstar LS900 PCI included dense grade IV nuclear sclerosis and large posterior subcapsular cataracts. In the primary endpoints, there was strong correlation between the Argos and the Lenstar devices in eyes with an axial length between 20 and 30 mm. CONCLUSION: The predictive accuracies of the Argos Optical Biometer and Lenstar LS900 PCI are similar, except in medium and long eyes, in which the predictive accuracy of Argos SS-OCT biometry was higher. The Argos system was found easier to use by technicians when compared to the other biometry devices.