Laser interference biometry versus ultrasound biometry in certain clinical conditions

To compare laser interference biometry (LIB) with conventional ultrasound biometry in certain clinical conditions such as globe deformities, eccentric fixation, retinal detachment, macular edema or silicone oil-filled eyes.

Department of Ophthalmology, Würzburg University Eye Hospital, Germany.

We evaluated all patients who came to our university hospital for axial length measurement with our routine immersion biometry system (Grieshaber Biometry System) and compared the results with those obtained using the Zeiss IOLMaster of Carl Zeiss Jena, the commercially available LIB device.

Selected case reports demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of LIB. Advantages of LIB were found in patients with asymmetrically shaped globes, eccentric fixation, silicone oil-filled eyes and a fearful/nervous disposition. Disadvantages of the system were revealed in cases of retinal detachment, severe opacities along the visual axis and poor patient cooperation.

We showed that LIB is a valuable addition to the choice of biometric devices, when used with medical understanding.