RESUMEN
Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the refractive state of an aphakic eye after phacoemulsification and the appropriate intraocular lens (IOL) power for emmetropia. Methods: This was a prospective, noncomparative consecutive case series study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 57 patients underwent phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation by a single surgeon. The intra-operative autorefraction was performed by another assisting surgeon prior to IOL implantation. The implanted IOL power and 1-month post-operative spherical equivalent (SE) were used to retrospectively calculate the predicted IOL power for emmetropia. The correlation between intra-operative aphakic SE and the predicted IOL power for emmetropia was evaluated. Results: Fifty seven patients with a mean age of 67.53 years (SD = 7.52) were included in the study. A linear relationship between intra-operative aphakic SE and predicted IOL power achieving plano was found with a formula: predicted IOL power (Diopter; D) = 9.416 + 1.107 (intra-operative aphakic SE), when the intra-operative aphakic SE range was + 7.25 to +16.25 D, with A-constant of 118.7. Conclusion: There is a linear relationship between intra-operative aphakic SE and predicted IOL power. Intra-operative autorefraction may be a simple and reliable method for IOL power calculation in cataract surgery.