The Relationship between Anterior Chamber Depth, Axial Length and Intraocular Lens Power among Candidates for Cataract Surgery

Central anterior chamber depth correlated with white-to-white distance in normal, long, and short eyes

PURPOSE

To explore the associations between central anterior chamber depth (CACD) and other anterior segment biometric parameters and to determine the possible determinants of CACD in short, normal, and long eyes.

METHODS

The biometric data of pre-operation patients aged 50-80 years with coexisting cataract and primary angle-closure disease or senile cataract were reviewed. Axial length (AL), CACD, lens thickness (LT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and white-to-white distance (WTW) were measured by Lenstar optical biometry (Lenstar 900). The data of 100 normal eyes (AL = 22 to 26 mm), 100 short eyes (AL ≤ 22 mm), and 100 long eyes (AL ≥ 26 mm) were consecutively collected for subsequent analyses.

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 66.60 ± 7.85 years, with 25.7% of the sample being men. Both CACD and WTW were found to be smallest in short eyes and were smaller in normal eyes than in long eyes (F = 126.524, P < 0.001; F = 28.458, P < 0.001). The mean LT was significantly thicker in short eyes than in normal and long eyes (4.66 mm versus 4.49 mm versus 4.40 mm; F = 18.099, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in CCT between the three AL groups (F = 2.135, P = 0.120). Stepwise regression analysis highlighted AL, LT, and WTW as three independent factors associated with CACD in the normal AL group. In the short AL group and long AL group, LT and WTW were independent factors associated with CACD.

CONCLUSIONS

CACD increases as AL elongates and reaches a peak when AL exceeds 26 mm. Furthermore, CACD showed inverse correlation with LT and positive correlation with WTW. A relatively small WTW results in an anteriorly positioned lens, and thus, a decrease in CACD.

Research progress on prediction of postoperative intraocular lens position

With the progress in refractive cataract surgery, more intraocular lens (IOL) power formulas have been introduced with the aim of reducing the postoperative refractive error. The postoperative IOL position is critical to IOL power calculations. Therefore, the improvements in postoperative IOL position prediction will enable better selection of IOL power and postoperative refraction. In the past, the postoperative IOL position was mainly predicted by preoperative anterior segment parameters such as preoperative axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and corneal curvature. In recent years, some novel methods including the intraoperative ACD, crystalline lens geometry, and artificial intelligence (AI) of prediction of postoperative IOL position have been reported. This article attempts to give a review about the research progress on prediction of the postoperative IOL position.

Relationship between the main components of the crystalline lens and the anterior chamber depth after cataract formation

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens thickness (LT), as well as its three main components (anterior and posterior cortex and nucleus thickness), in cataractous and non-cataractous eyes, depending on the axial length (AxL).

METHODS

Anterior and posterior cortex and nucleus thickness of the crystalline lens, ACD, and AxL were measured using optical low-coherence reflectometry in cataractous and non-cataractous eyes. They were also classified into hyperopia, emmetropia, myopia, and high myopia, depending on AxL; thus, eight subgroups were created. A minimum sample size of 44 eyes (of 44 patients) for each group was recruited. Linear models were fitted for the whole sample and each AxL subgroup to assess if there were differences in the relationships between the crystalline lens variables and ACD, including age as a covariate.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy cataract patients (237 females, 133 males) and 250 non-cataract controls (180 females, 70 males), aged 70.5 ± 9.4 and 41.9 ± 15.5 years, respectively, were recruited. The mean AxL, ACD, and LT for the cataractous and non-cataractous eyes were 23.90 ± 2.05, 24.11 ± 2.11, 2.64 ± 0.45, and 2.91 ± 0.49, 4.51 ± 0.38, 3.93 ± 0.44 mm, respectively. The inverse relationship of LT, anterior and posterior cortex, and nucleus thickness with ACD was not significantly (p ≥ 0.26) different between cataractous and non-cataractous eyes. Further subclassification of the sample depending on AxL showed that the inverse relationship between the posterior cortex and ACD was no longer significant (p > 0.05) for any non-cataractous AxL group. LT, anterior and posterior cortex, and nucleus thickness was not significantly (p ≥ 0.43) different between cataractous and non-cataractous eyes for the whole sample, and all AxL groups after adjusting for age.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of cataracts does not modify the inverse relationship of the LT, anterior and posterior cortex, and nucleus with ACD. And this relationship does not seem to depend importantly on AxL. Besides, the possible differences in LT, anterior and posterior cortex, and nucleus between cataractous and non-cataractous eyes may not be caused by lens opacification, but possibly by the progressive lens growth due to aging.

Clinical Accuracy of 6 Intraocular Lens Power Calculation Formulas in Elongated Eyes, According to Anterior Chamber Depth

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of anterior chamber depth (ACD) on the accuracy of the Kane, EVO 2.0, Barrett Universal II (BU II), Olsen, SRK/T, and Haigis formulas in patients with elongated eyes.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series study.

METHODS

A total of 106 patients (106 eyes) diagnosed with high myopia (axial length ≥26 mm) were enrolled and divided into 3 subgroups according to preoperative ACD. Mean refractive error (ME), mean absolute refractive error (MAE), median absolute refractive error (MedAE), and proportions of eyes within ±0.25 D, ±0.50 D, ±0.75 D, and ±1.00 D were calculated.

RESULTS

In all patients, the MedAE was lowest for the Kane formula (0.28 D), followed by the BU II (0.34 D). In the shallow ACD subgroup, EVO 2.0 formula produced the lowest MedAE (0.22 D), and the highest proportion of eyes within ±0.25 D (58%); the BU II (0.23 D, 50%) and Kane (0.25 D, 50%) formulas produced similar proportions. In the deep ACD group, the MedAEs of the Haigis and SRK/T formulas (0.68 D and 0.50 D, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the EVO 2.0 (0.37 D), Kane (0.30 D), BU II (0.43 D), and Olsen (0.34 D) formulas (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the Kane and EVO 2.0 formulas had the highest accuracy. EVO 2.0 and BU II formulas are recommended for patients with shallow ACD; the Kane formula is recommended for patients with deep ACD (especially patients with extremely elongated eyes). The SRK/T and Haigis formulas should be avoided as much as possible.

Topical Review: Causes of Refractive Error After Silicone-oil Removal Combined with Cataract Surgery

SIGNIFICANCE

This review summarizes the main factors of refractive error after silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery.The post-operative refractive results of silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery are closely related to the patient's future vision quality. This report summarizes the factors that influence the difference between the actual post-operative refractive power and the pre-operatively predicted refractive power after silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery, including axial length, anterior chamber depth, silicone oil, commonly used tools for measuring intraocular lens power, and intraocular lens power calculation formulas, among others. The aim of the report is to assist clinical and scientific research on the elimination of refractive error after silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery.

Lens anatomy parameters with intraoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in cataractous eyes

Purpose

To study correlations of crystalline lens anatomy and position parameters obtained using intraoperative spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in cataract patients.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated biometry data from 600 eyes of 399 cataract patients (mean age: 69±8.4 years) using intraoperative anterior segment SD-OCT during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Lens anatomy and position parameters (anterior chamber depth [ACD] – center of the anterior cornea to the anterior lens capsule, lens thickness [LT] – distance between anterior and posterior lens capsules, and lens meridian position [LMP] – distance from center of the anterior cornea to intersection of the anterior and posterior lens) obtained with intraoperative SD-OCT, were correlated among themselves and with noncontact axial length (AL). Equatorial plane position (EPP) (distance between the plane of the lens equator and anterior capsule) was also studied. Pearson’s coefficients (r-values) were determined for all correlation pairs.

Results

There was a moderate correlation between AL and ACD (r=0.451; P<0.001). LMP was found to correlate strongly with ACD (r=0.77; P<0.001) but very weakly with AL (r=0.089; P=0.04). There was a moderately strong inverse correlation between LT and ACD (r=−0.586; P<0.001) but the correlation between LT and AL and LT and LMP was found to be weak (r=−0.155; P<0.001 and r=−0.121, P=0.003, respectively). Correlation of the ratio of EPP/LT and LT was weakly positive (r=0.267; P<0.001).

Conclusion

LMP correlated strongly with ACD but only minimally with AL. LT correlated fairly strongly with ACD but only minimally with LMP. This should stimulate additional research into the relationships among ocular and crystalline lens anatomy and IOL position after cataract surgery.

Clinical outcomes following trifocal diffractive intraocular lens implantation for age-related cataract in China

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate visual, refractive and patient satisfaction outcomes following implantation of a trifocal diffractive intraocular lens (IOL).

Patients and methods

This prospective, consecutive study included patients undergoing lens phacoemulsification of cataract and implantation of a trifocal diffractive IOL (AT LISA tri 839MP). Visual outcomes, including near, intermediate and distance visual acuity (VA), refractive error, contrast sensitivity, defocus curve and patient satisfaction were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

Thirty IOLs were implanted in 26 patients. Distance VA improved significantly from 0.70±0.45 to 0.08±0.11 logMAR (p<0.0001) 1 week postoperatively, and to 0.07±0.13 logMAR (p<0.0001) at 1 month and 0.05±0.10 logMAR (p<0.0001) at 3 months. Uncorrected near and intermediate VA, as well as corrected near, intermediate and distance VA, were stable and maintained during the follow-up period. Preoperative anterior chamber depth demonstrated an association with effective adjustment of postoperative spherical equivalent using a regression formula (p=0.007). No significant differences were observed for VA at defocus curves of 0 to −3 D. Contrast sensitivity at each spatial frequency improved significantly at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months under photopic and photopic with glare conditions. Under mesopic and mesopic with glare conditions, significant differences were observed postoperatively at low and medium spatial frequencies. Patients reported a high level of satisfaction and an absence of glare or halo 3 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

In this study, the trifocal diffractive IOL provided excellent visual performance at all distances and improved contrast sensitivity under different conditions, resulting in high levels of patient satisfaction and spectacle independence in Chinese patients.

Effect of anterior chamber depth on the choice of intraocular lens calculation formula

Purpose

To investigate the effect of anterior chamber depth (ACD) on the refractive outcomes of the SRK/T, Holladay 1, Hoffer Q and Haigis formulae in short, normal, long and extremely long eyes.

Methods

This retrospective study involved patients who had uncomplicated cataract surgery. Preoperative axial length (AL) was divided into four subgroups: short (< 22.00 mm), normal (22.00–24.49 mm), long (24.50–25.99 mm), extremely long (≥ 26.00 mm). Preoperative ACD was divided into three subgroups: < 2.5, 2.50–3.49, and ≥ 3.5 mm. Median absolute errors (MedAEs) predicted by the SRK/T, Holladay 1, Hoffer Q and Haigis formulae were compared with the Friedman test. Post-hoc analysis involved the Wilcoxon signed rank test with a Bonferroni adjustment. Correlations between ACD and the predictive refractive errors of the four formulas were analyzed.

Results

In short eyes with an ACD < 2.5 mm, the Haigis formula revealed the highest MedAE. The difference in MedAE with the Hoffer Q formula (which had the lowest MedAE) was statistically significant (P = 0.002). In normal eyes, the Haigis formula significantly differed from the Holladay 1 (P = 0.002) and Hoffer Q (P = 0.005) formulae in the ACD < 2.5 mm group. In long eyes and extremely long eyes with an ACD ≥ 3.5 mm, the differences in MedAEs were statistically significant (P = 0.018, P = 0.001, respectively) and the Haigis formula had the lowest MedAEs in both subgroups (0.29 D, 0.30 D, respectively). In the total of 1,123 eyes, refractive errors predicted by the Haigis formula showed a significant negative correlation with the ACD (R² = 0.002, P = 0.047).

Conclusions

The Hoffer Q formula is preferred over other formulae in short eyes with an ACD shallower than 2.5 mm. In short and normal eyes with an ACD < 2.5 mm the Haigis formula might underestimate ELP. The Haigis formula is the preferred choice in eyes with an AL ≥ 24.5 mm and an ACD ≥ 3.5 mm.