Influence of measurement conditions on IOL constants

 

In IOL power formulas, lenses are represented by IOL constants, namely:

 

Formula

IOL constant C

SRK II

A constant

SRK/T

A constant

HofferQ

pACD

Holladay-1

sf

Haigis

a0 (, a1,a2)


 

Every IOL constant C depends on axial length L, corneal radius R, IOL power P, refraction X, and - as far as the Haigis a0 constant is concerned - on the preop anterior chamber depth d. Any change in one of the variables L, R, P, X or d will cause a corresponding change in the respective IOL constant C.

  

If a new axial length measuring device is bought, it may measure e.g. 0.3 mm longer than the old one. This change DL=0.3 mm in axial length determination will be responsible for a change DC in the respective IOL constant. Likewise, if a new keratometer consistently gave 0.10 mm steeper radii than an old one, this shift of DR=0.10 mm will again be reflected in a change DCof the respective IOL constant.

 

If we only consider changes in measuring axial length L, corneal radius R and anterior chamber depth d, we obtain the following formulas: 

 

Formula

IOL constant 

Change D in IOL constants

SRK II

DA = 2.50 DL – 5.12 DR

SRK/T

DA = 2.49 DL – 4.69 DR

HofferQ

pACD

DpACD = 1.74 DL – 3.74 DR

Holladay-1

sf

Dsf = 1.65 DL – 3.37 DR

Haigis

a0

Da0 = 1.88 DL – 3.97 DR – 0.40 Dd

 


 

Example: (let the following be averages for e.g. 20 patients, obtained with different measurement instruments):

 

Averages [mm]

Ultrasound/keratometer

IOLMaster

Difference D

Axial length L

23.32

23.48

0.16

Corneal radius R

7.73

7.63

-0.10

Anterior chamber depth d

2.80

3.08

0.28


 

The new measurement setup causes the following changes in IOL constants:

 

Formula

Change D in IOL constants

SRK II

DA = 2.50 DL – 5.12 DR

= 2.50 x 0.16 + 5.12 x 0.10

= 0.91 D

SRK/T

DA = 2.49 DL – 4.69 DR

= 2.49 x 0.16 + 4.69 x 0.10

= 0.87 D

HofferQ

DpACD = 1.74 DL – 3.74 DR

= 1.74 x 0.16 + 3.74 x 0.10

= 0.65 mm

Holladay-1

Dsf = 1.65 DL – 3.37 DR

= 1.65 x 0.16 + 3.37 x 0.10

= 0.60 mm

Haigis

Da0 = 1.88 DL – 3.97 DR – 0.40 Dd

= 1.88 x 0.16 + 3.97 x 0.10 – 0.40 x 0.28

= 0.59 mm


 

Accordingly, the new constants are calculated from the old constants as follows :

 

Formula

New (IOLMaster) constants 

SRK II

IOLMaster A-constant = old A-constant + 0.91 D

SRK/T

IOLMaster A-constant = old A-constant + 0.87 D

HofferQ

IOLMaster pACD = old pACD + 0.65 mm

Holladay-1

IOLMaster sf = old sf + 0.60 mm

Haigis

IOLMaster a0 = old a0 + 0.59 mm


 

These results were in part presented at the 2001 ASCRS meeting in San Diego, USA

HAIGIS W, STROBEL J: Influence of measurement conditions on IOL constants.

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Last revision: Jan 11, 2010