The Effect of Pharmacological Dilation on Calculation of Targeted and Ideal IOL Power Using Multivariable Formulas

To examine the effect of pharmacologic dilation on biometric parameters measured by the Lenstar LS 900, and whether these changes affect the power of the calculated intraocular lens (IOL) using multivariable formulas in an undilated versus pharmacologically dilated state.

Prospective study of 98 phakic eyes from 53 patients. Axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and keratometry (K) readings were measured. The first set of measurements was taken prior to dilation. After dilation (pupil diameter ≥ 6.0 mm), a second set of measurements was taken. The Barrett, Olsen, Hill-RBF, Haigis, SRK/T, and Holladay I formulas were used to calculate IOL power before and after dilation. Two calculation methods were used: method A used a commonly available IOL targeted to achieve the lowest myopic spheroequivalent residual refraction; method B calculated ideal IOL power for emmetropia.

Statistically significant increases were seen in CCT (p < 0.01), ACD (p < 0.01), and AL (p < 0.01) whereas a statistically significant decrease was seen in LT (p < 0.01) post dilation. Using method A, the percentage of eyes which would have received an IOL with 0.5 D or 1.0 D of higher power, if post-dilation measurements were used, were 25.5%, 30.6%, 20.4%, and 23.5% for Barrett, Olsen, Hill-RBF, and Haigis, respectively. Using method B, only Haigis and Olsen had a statistically significant increase in ideal IOL power.

Pharmacologic dilation can be associated with an increase in non-custom IOL dioptric power when using multivariable formulas, which may lead to a myopic surprise.