AXIAL LENGTH CHANGE BETWEEN BEFORE AND AFTER CATARACT SURGERY

To achieve the desired post-operative refraction after cataract surgery, exact preoperative biometry is necessary. Precise measurement of axial length (AL) is critical for proper IOL calculation. Therefore, postoperative AL changes may have an impact on the final refraction. Recent studies found a decrease in axial length with cataract surgery. The study investigated pre- and postoperative biometric data assessed with two optical biometers (IOLMaster 700 and ANTERION).

Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery (VIROS), a Karl-Landsteiner Institute, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna. 

Patients scheduled for cataract surgery between March and October 2020 were included in the present study. Fifty eyes of 50 patients (19 males) were selected and 36 patients completed the study. Before surgery of the eye, patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including IOLMaster 700 and ANTERION biometry as well as LOCS grading of cataract intensity. Biometry was repeated three months after surgery.

A statistically significant, but comparable, AL reduction after cataract surgery of 0.08 ± 0.04 mm and 0.07 ± 0.07 mm was found with the IOLMaster 700 and the ANTERION, respectively. Difference in keratometry was comparable between both devices (-0.02 ± 0.24 D with IOLMaster and -0.09 ± 0.24 D with ANTERION). There was no correlation between lens thickness or keratometry and the reduction of AL. However, a statistically significant correlation was found for cataract grade (total LOCS score and nuclear LOCS score) and the change in measured AL.

The study showed a shorter axial length after cataract surgery using two modern biometers, comparable to previous published data. The comparison between the devices showed good agreement in AL measurements and keratometry. Lens thickness as well as pre- and postoperative anterior chamber depth were slightly lager using the ANTERION. The grade of cataract seems to have a slight impact on the change in AL values measured.