Evaluation of 2 new optical biometry devices and comparison with the current gold standard biometer

PURPOSE: To compare 2 new optical biometry devices with the present gold standard biometer. SETTING: Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria. DESIGN: Evaluation of diagnostic test or technology. METHODS: In patients scheduled for cataract surgery, measurements performed with the current gold standard optical biometer (IOLMaster) were compared with those of 2 new optical biometers, the Lenstar LS 900 (optical low-coherence reflectometry [OLCR] device; substudy 1) and the IOLMaster 500 (partial coherence interferometry [PCI] device; substudy 2). The duration of patient data entry and of 1:he actual measurement process and the time from intraocular lens power calculation to printout were calculated. RESULTS: The mean difference in axial length measurements was 0.01 mm +/- 0.05 (SD) between the gold standard device and the new OLCR device and 0.01 +/- 0.02 mm between the gold standard device and the new PCI device (P = .12 and P < .001, respectively). Measurements with the new OLCR device took significantly longer than with the gold standard device (mean difference 209 +/- 127 seconds), and measurements with the gold standard device took significantly longer than with the new PCI device (mean difference 82 +/- 46 seconds) (both P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: All 3 devices were easy to use for biometry before cataract surgery. Measurements with the new PCI device took half as long as those with the gold standard device. Measurements with the new OLCR device took twice as long as those with the gold standard device.