Comparison and Evaluation of Ocular Biometry Using a New Noncontact Optical Low-coherence Reflectometer

Purpose: To evaluate a new high-resolution noncontact biometer (Lenstar; Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland) using optical low-coherence reflectometry and to compare the clinical measurements with those obtained from the IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) and the Pachmumeter (Haag-Streit AG).

Design: Exploratory evaluation of diagnostic technology and nonrandomized, prospective clinical trial.

Participants: Eighty subjects (144 eyes) aged 20 to 90 years with cataractous, pseudophakic, aphakic, silicon oil-filled, or normal eyes.

Methods: Measurements of axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal radius (R1 [flattest radius of corneal curvature] and R2 [steep radius, 90 degrees apart from R1]), and axis of the flattest radius (Ax1) obtained with the Lenstar were compared with those obtained with the IOLMaster or Pachmumeter. The results were evaluated using Bland-Altman analyses. The differences between both methods were assessed using the paired t test, and its correlation was evaluated by Pearson coefficient.

Main Outcome Measures: Axial length, CCT, ACD, R1, R2, and Ax1.

Results: The overall mean AL measured with the Lenstar and the IOLMaster was 24.1 mm (r = 0.999). Anterior chamber depth was 3.19 mm (Lenstar) and 3.17 mm (IOLMaster; r = 0.875). Excellent correlations also were found for the corneal radius and the axis of flattest radius (R1, r = 0.927; R2, r = 0.929; and Ax1, r = 0.938). Mean CCT was 0.557 mm (r = 0.978) for both Lenstar and Pachmumeter.

Conclusions: Measurements with the new Lenstar correlated well with those with the IOLMaster and Pachmumeter in cataractous, pseudophakic, aphakic, silicon oil-filled, and normal eyes. It is an accurate, fast instrument that provides additional information of interest to any cataract or refractive surgeon.