Relative lens vault predicts post-op refractory error

(HealthDay)—For patients with primary angle-closure (PAC) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), relative lens vault (rLV; the ratio of lens vault [LV] to anterior vault [AV]) predicts postoperative refractive error, according to a study published online April 15 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.

Sam Seo, Ph.D., from the Cheil Eye Hospital in Daegu, South Korea, and colleagues examined the biometric factors associated with the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power predictions for cataract surgery in 103 patients with PAC or PACG. Participants underwent anterior-segment optical coherence tomography before surgery. Customized software was used to measure the rLV and the AV. The powers of the implanted IOL and actual postoperative refractive errors were compared.

The researchers observed a slight tendency toward resultant hyperopia with the Haigis, Hoffer Q, and SRK/T formulas (P < 0.001, P = 0.05, and P = 0.003, respectively). The least prediction error was seen for the Hoffer Q formula (P < 0.001). The rLV was the only independent factor predicting postoperative refractive error in the multivariate regression analysis (β = 0.392; P = 0.011).

"IOL power predictions for cataract surgery in PAC or PACG patients can be inaccurate," the authors write. "Such results might be associated with anterior-segment biometric factors. Preoperative rLV appears to be a significant factor predicting refractive outcome after cataract surgery in patients with PAC or PACG."