High Agreement between Barrett Universal II Calculations with and without Utilization of Optional Biometry Parameters

To examine the contribution of anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and white-to-white (WTW) measurements to intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations using the Barrett Universal II (BUII) formula.

Measurements taken with the IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss, Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) swept-source biometry of 501 right eyes of 501 consecutive patients undergoing cataract extraction surgery between January 2019 and March 2020 were reviewed. IOL power was calculated using the BUII formula, first through the inclusion of all measured variables and then by using partial biometry data. For each calculation method, the IOL power targeting emmetropia was recorded and compared for the whole cohort and stratified by axial length (AL) of the measured eye.

The mean IOL power calculated for the entire cohort using all available parameters was 19.50 ± 5.11 diopters (D). When comparing it to the results obtained by partial biometry data, the mean absolute difference ranged from 0.05 to 0.14 D; p < 0.001. The optional variables (ACD, LT, WTW) had the least effect in long eyes (AL ≥ 26 mm; mean absolute difference ranging from 0.02 to 0.07 D; p < 0.001), while the greatest effect in short eyes (AL ≤ 22 mm; mean absolute difference from 0.10 to 0.21 D; p < 0.001). The percentage of eyes with a mean absolute IOL dioptric power difference more than 0.25 D was the highest (32.0%) among the short AL group when using AL and keratometry values only.

Using partial biometry data, the BUII formula in small eyes (AL ≤ 22 mm) resulted in a clinically significant difference in the calculated IOL power compared to the full biometry data. In contrast, the contribution of the optional parameters to the calculated IOL power was of little clinical importance in eyes with AL longer than 22 mm.