Biometry and intraocular lens power calculation

This article surveys the literature of 1 year, between July 2003 and August 2004, on the topic of biometry and intraocular lens power calculation for cataract surgery. There is an increasing demand for low postoperative refractive error with rising patient expectations, especially with patients who have already undergone refractive surgery, and with developing intraocular lens technologies such as multifocal, accommodating, or toric intraocular lenses. Optical biometry has become an invaluable tool for axial length measurement, especially for a setting with a less experienced biometrist. Introduction of ray tracing for power calculation and new methods of dealing with power calculation in eyes that have undergone previous refractive surgery seem promising. New intraocular lens designs that allow adjusting the axial optic position and therefore the effective refractive power of the intraocular lens have been evaluated in animal studies.