Relationship between age and intraocular lens diopter prediction error

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between intraocular lens (IOL) diopter prediction error (PE) and ages of patient with cataract . Methods A prospective nonrandom cohort study. The data of 525 eyes of 525 patients with cataract were collected and they were divided into 4 groups according to age. Age ≤ 59 years group were in 75 eyes of 75 cases, and 150 eyes of 150 patients in each other 3 groups (60-69, 70-79 and 80-89 years). All cases received phacoemulsification and implantation of a single-piece acrylic IOL. The IOL diopter was calculated by the optimized SRK/T formula.Objective refraction was measured with an auto-refractomer 3 months postoperatively.The mean PE and absolute PE were compared among 4 groups. Results The difference of mean preoperative refractive prediction error by the SRK/T formula was statistically significant among 4 groups (P=0.418). Mean PE was 0.24 diopters (D) in≤59 years group, 0.17 D in 60-69 years group, 0.11 D in 70-79 years group, and 0.05 D in 80-89 years group. The difference in median absolute PE was not statistically significant among groups (P=0.619). Mean PE was positively correlated with age (P=0.000). Multiple regression analysis revealed that age, preoperative axial length, average corneal curvature, and anterior chamber depth were independent predictors of the age-related difference in PE. Conclusion PE is less of 0.06 D per decade as age increased, suggesting that age of patient should be considered when selecting IOL diopter. Key words: Cataract; Phacoemulsification; Lens, intraocular; Prediction error, dioptric