Fellow Eye Data for IOL Calculation in Eyes Undergoing Combined Phacovitrectomy

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate whether the intraocular lens (IOL) calculation of the fellow eye (FE) can be used in eyes undergoing combined phacovitrectomy.Methods In this retrospective, consecutive case series, we enrolled patients who underwent silicone oil (SO) removal combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation at the Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. Preoperative examinations included biometry using the IOL Master 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). We used the IOL calculation of the FE (FE group) to calculate the prediction error compared with the IOL calculation using only the axial length of the FE (AL-FE group), as well as using the axial length (AL) of the operated eye (OE group) in addition to the measurable biometric parameters. For the IOL calculation, the Barrett Universal II formula was used. We compared the mean prediction error (MPE) as well as the mean (MAE) and median absolute prediction error (MedAE) with each other. In addition, the number of eyes with ± 0.50, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 diopters (D) deviation from the target refraction was compared.Results In total, 79 eyes of 79 patients met our inclusion criteria. MedAE was lowest in the OE group (0.41 D), followed by FE group (1.00 D) and AL-FE group (1.02 D). Comparison between the AL-FE and FE groups showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.712). Comparing eyes within ± 0.50 D of the target refraction, the OE group (50 eyes, 63.3%) performed best, followed by the AL-FE group (22 eyes, 27.8%) and the FE group (21 eyes, 26.6%).Conclusion Our results indicate no clinically relevant difference between using the IOL calculation of the fellow eye versus using only the axial length of the fellow eye in addition to the measurable parameters for the IOL calculation. A two-step procedure should always be strived for.