Surgically induced astigmatism assessment: comparison between three corneal measuring devices

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Corneal Imaging

Background:

• Accurate measurement of corneal astigmatism is crucial for predicting and managing outcomes after cataract surgery.
• Surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) assessment relies on precise pre- and post-operative corneal measurements.
• Various devices are available for corneal measurements, necessitating comparison for clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of three different devices in calculating SIA following cataract surgery.
• Evaluate the consistency of SIA measurements obtained from Lenstar LS900, IOLMaster 500, and Atlas topographer.
• Determine if these devices yield comparable SIA values for clinical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient records undergoing cataract extraction with 2.4-mm corneal incisions.
• Corneal astigmatism measurements were taken pre-operatively and at least one month post-operatively using Lenstar, IOLMaster, and Atlas.
• Vector analysis was employed to calculate SIA for each device.

Main Results:

• Data from 70 eyes of 49 patients were analyzed.
• Median SIA values were similar across devices: 0.45 D (Lenstar), 0.41 D (IOLMaster), and 0.47 D (Atlas).
• Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the SIA results from the three devices (P = .884).

Conclusions:

• The Lenstar LS900, IOLMaster 500, and Atlas topographer demonstrate comparable performance in measuring SIA.
• These anterior corneal measuring devices provide similar results, supporting their interchangeable use in clinical practice.
• The findings aid in selecting reliable tools for astigmatism management in refractive cataract surgery.