Background: Preoperative biometry for calculation of the refractive power of intraocular lenses is not sufficiently reliable in certain cases. Most frequently inaccuracies tend to occur in highly myopic eyes. Preceding refractive procedures can also impair IOL-calculation or even make it impossible.
Patients: In a highly myopic patient IOL-power calculation was not possible with conventional calculation formulas due to a preexisting refractive silicone lens located between the cataractuous natural lens and the iris. In another myopic patient ultrasound measurement of axial eye length produced variable and unreliable results. Therefore retinoscopy was performed intraoperatively in the aphakic eye. Refractive power of the IOL was calculated using a new formula. For validation of the method retinoscopy was performed intraoperatively in a second group of 11 patients with unproblematic ultrasound biometry.
Results: In 3 eyes IOL power was chosen according to intraoperative retinoscopy. A maximal deviation of 1.25 D from the aimed refraction resulted. In the second group, the retinoscopic method produced partially considerably inaccurate results as compared to the ultrasound biometry. Inaccuracies increased with the extent of hyperopia.
Conclusions: In cases of difficult or inaccurate preoperative ultrasound biometry IOL power can be estimated after intraoperative retinoscopy in the aphacic highly myopic eye. IOL power can be calculated instantly using computer programs or tables. This method additionally enables the surgeon to control the refractive result of intraocular lens implantation prior to wound closure. However this method lacks reliability in higher hyperopic eyes, as in these cases small changes in corneal vertex distance of the lens used for retinoscopy highly alter the result.