AstigMETRICS: An Automated Tool for Standardized Vector Metrics Tables and Group Comparisons in Refractive Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Standardized reporting of astigmatism outcomes is crucial for refractive surgery research comparability and reproducibility.
• Existing methods lack freely available tools for generating publication-ready vector analysis tables with statistical comparisons.
• Vectorial analyses using established metrics are increasingly required by major journals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present AstigMETRICS, a standalone application for automated astigmatism vector analysis in refractive surgery.
• To provide a tool for calculating, formatting, and statistically comparing standard vector metrics.
• To enhance methodological consistency and simplify outcome reporting in refractive surgery studies.

Main Methods:

• Developed a standalone MATLAB application, AstigMETRICS, requiring no programming knowledge.
• Input: Preoperative, intended, and postoperative astigmatism data (refractive and corneal).
• Calculated seven Alpins method vector metrics (TIA, SIA, DV, CI, ME, AE, IOS) with automated statistical comparisons (p-values, Cohen's d).

Main Results:

• AstigMETRICS generates standardized tables with means, standard deviations, and clinically relevant proportions.
• Validated using simulated datasets for laser vision correction, toric phakic IOL, and cataract surgery with toric IOLs.
• Output tables are publication-ready (TIFF format) and the software is freely available.

Conclusions:

• AstigMETRICS enables standardized and reproducible astigmatism vector analyses with integrated statistical comparisons.
• The freely available tool simplifies outcome reporting for clinicians and researchers.
• Improves methodological consistency in refractive surgery research.