The Use of Intraoperative Aberrometry in Normal Eyes: An Analysis of Intraocular Lens Selection in Scenarios of Disagreement

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare prediction error outcomes between the Optiwave Refractive Analysis System (ORA) (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) and two modern intraocular lens (IOL) formulas (Hill-RBF2.0 [HRBF] and Barrett Universal II [BUII]), and further analyze IOL selection in scenarios of disagreement between methods. METHODS: Patients with no previous history of corneal refractive surgery who underwent cataract extraction and had intraoperative aberrometry measurements between October 2016 and December 2019 were analyzed. The prediction error for the ORA, HRBF, and BUII were calculated based on the postoperative manifest refraction. Further analysis was performed evaluating prediction error for scenarios of disagreement between the three methods. RESULTS: After exclusions, 281 eyes were included. The mean absolute prediction errors were 0.28 diopters (D) (ORA), 0.31 D (HRBF), and 0.33 D (BUII) ( P < .05). In instances when the IOL recommended by the ORA was in disagreement with what was selected preoperatively, there was no benefit when the lens recommended by the ORA was selected based on anecdotal experience. When further analyzing these instances of disagreement, selecting the ORA-recommended lens when it is higher in power results in improved refractive outcomes: the ORA resulted in more eyes within ±0.25 diopters (D) of predicted spherical error (65% ORA, 37% HRBF, 32% BUII; P = .004) and fewer hyperopic surprises (5% ORA, 15% HRBF, 24% BUII; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: In normal eyes without previous corneal refractive surgery, intraoperative aberrometry is not different from to two modern preoperative IOL formulas. Placing the ORA-recommended lens when it is higher in power than that selected preoperatively results in better refractive outcomes. [ J Refract Surg . 2022;38(5):304–309.]