A Comparative Study of Total Corneal Power Using a Ray Tracing Method Obtained from 3 Different Scheimpflug Camera Devices.

PURPOSE

We sought to assess the agreement of ray-traced corneal power values by 3 Scheimpflug tomographers tp construct the corresponding arithmetic adjustment factor in comparison with an automated keratometer (IOLMaster) and a conventional Placido-based topographer (Allegro Topolyzer).

DESIGN

Prospective reliability analysis.

METHODS

A total of 74 eyes from 74 healthy subjects who underwent corneal power measurements using Pentacam, Sirius, Galilei, IOLMaster, and Allegro Topolyzer were included. Ray-traced corneal power values, such as total corneal refractive power (TCRP), mean pupil power (MPP), total corneal power (TCP), mean keratometry (Km), and simulated keratometry (SimK) were recorded respectively and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

Among the 3 ray-traced corneal power values, TCRP and MPP did not differ significantly (P = 0.81), whereas TCP presented a slightly significant larger value (P < 0.001). Compared to Km or SimK, corneal power measurements by the ray tracing method exhibited significantly lower values (P < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots disclosed that the 3 Scheimpflug tomographers showed similar 95% limits of agreement after arithmetic adjustment compared with Km (-0.40 to 0.40 D, -0.39 to 0.39 D, and -0.35 to 0.34 D) or SimK (-0.50 to 0.51 D, -0.43 to 0.42 D, and -0.46 to 0.46 D).

CONCLUSIONS

Ray-traced corneal power values obtained using 3 Scheimpflug tomographers with default diameter settings were similar, indicating that they could be used interchangeably in daily clinical practice. The 3 Scheimpflug tomographers were satisfactory in agreement after arithmetical adjustment compared with conventional automated keratometer or Placido-based topographer.