Comparison of two new integrated SS-OCT tomography and biometry devices.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the agreement in biometry measurements and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations between 2 integrated swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) tomography/biometry devices: the Eyestar 900 and the Anterion. SETTING: Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. METHODS: 113 eyes of 66 consecutive patients who were evaluated prior to cataract surgery using both devices on the same visit were included. Measurements of axial length, anterior and posterior keratometry, anterior chamber depth, corneal diameter (CD), central corneal thickness, and lens thickness were recorded from both devices and analyzed for agreement and correlation. IOL power calculations using Barrett Universal II formula were compared between the devices in addition to prediction error (PE) and the mean absolute error (MAE). RESULTS: The mean age was 71.6 ± 9.8 years. Clinically, the mean differences in measured variables were small. Measurement correlation and agreement between the devices were excellent for all variables, except for CD (Spearman r = 0.763, P < .001, and Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement -0.21 to +0.65 mm). Good agreement was found between the devices in IOL power calculations, PE, and MAE, and the agreement was better when using the Eyestar 900 reflective keratometry measurements than the Eyestar 900 SS-OCT keratometry measurements (IOL power agreement within ±0.5 diopter (D) in 90.5% [n = 95] and 81.0% [n = 85], respectively [ P = .076], and within ±0.25 D in 64.8% [n = 68] and 44.8% [n = 47], respectively [ P = .005]). CONCLUSIONS: The 2 integrated SS-OCT tomography/biometry devices had good agreement in biometry measurements and IOL power calculations. Agreement was better when the Eyestar 900 reflective anterior keratometry measurements were used rather than the Eyestar 900 SS-OCT anterior keratometry measurements. Measurements of CD had reduced agreement and were not interchangeable.

A Simple Pre-Operative Nuclear Classification Score (SPONCS) for Grading Cataract Hardness in Clinical Studies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a simplified pre-operative nuclear classification score (SPONCS) was valid, both for clinical trials and real-world settings. METHODS: Cataract classification was based on posterior nuclear color: 0 (clear), 1 (subcapsular/posterior cataract with clear nucleus), 2 (mild "green nucleus" with plus sign for yellow reflection of the posterior cortex), 3 (medium "yellow nucleus" with plus sign for brown/red posterior cortex reflection), 4 (advanced with 4 being "red/brown nucleus" and 4+ white nucleus), and 5 (hypermature/Morgagnian nucleus). Inter- and intra-observer validity was assessed by 30 Ophthalmologists for 15 cataract cases. The reliability of the cataract grading score in a surgical setting was evaluated. Correlation of nuclear scores was compared with phacoemulsification cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) in 596 patients. RESULTS: Analysis of mean intra-observer Cohen kappa agreement was 0.55 with an inter-observer score of 0.54 for the first assessment and 0.49 for the repeat assessment one week later. When evaluating results by nuclear color alone, there was a substantial agreement for both the intra-observer (0.70) and inter-observer parameters: 0.70 for the first test, and 0.66 on repetition with randomization of the cases after a week. CDE levels were found to be significantly different between all SPONCS score groups (p < 0.001), with a lower CDE related to a lower SPONCS score. A strong correlation was found between the SPONCS score and CDE (Spearman's rho = 0.8, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This method of grading cataract hardness is both simple and repeatable. This system can be easily incorporated in randomized controlled trials to lower bias and confounding effects regarding nuclear density along with application in the clinical setting.