Refractive outcomes after silicone oil removal and intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) calculations in eyes undergoing silicone oil removal and IOL implantation using ultrasound biometry and partial coherence interferometry (PCI) (IOLMaster).

METHODS

This was a retrospective consecutive series of eyes that underwent silicone oil removal and IOL implantation from 1999 to 2009. Data were collected on preoperative and intraoperative characteristics that could affect the refractive outcome. The predicted refraction, as measured with ultrasound biometry or PCI, was compared with the postoperative refraction.

RESULTS

Overall, the mean difference between observed and predicted refraction was -0.97 diopters (D). Thirty-five of 64 eyes (55%) were measured by ultrasound biometry, and 29 of 64 eyes (45%) were measured by PCI. The mean (SD) difference between the predicted refraction and the observed spherical equivalent was -1.34 D (2.18 D) when measured by biometry and -0.51 D (2.03 D) when measured by PCI (P = 0.13).

CONCLUSION

Refractive outcomes after silicone oil removal and secondary IOL implantation are fairly accurate, with most ending up slightly myopic. Measurement by PCI may be more accurate than biometry. The IOL power should be selected to yield a target refraction about 0.5 D to 1.25 D more hyperopic than desired, depending on the method used to measure it.