Repeatability and agreement in optical biometry of a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometer versus partial coherence interferometry and optical low-coherence reflectometry

PURPOSE: To estimate the repeatability of biometric parameters obtained with a new swept-source biometer and to compare the agreement with that of partial coherence interferometry (PCI) and optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Helios Hospital Erfurt, Erfurt, Julius-Maximilians University, Wurzburg, and Philipps University, Marburg, Germany. DESIGN: Prospective comparative multicenter clinical study. METHODS: Biometry was taken with the use of 3 different biometers: the IOLMaster 700 swept source biometer, the PCI-based IOLMaster 500, and the OCLR-based Lenstar LS 900. Axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and spherical equivalent (SE) were compared between swept source and PCI biometry and central corneal thickness (CCT) and lens thickness (LT) between swept-source and OLCR biometry. The repeatability of swept-source biometry was evaluated on the basis of 3 measurements captured for each patient. RESULTS: One hundred twenty cataract eyes were included in the study. The mean difference between swept-source and PCI biometry for AL, ACD, and SE measurements was 4 mu m +/- 25 (SD), 17 +/- 122 mu m, and -0.001 +/- 0.19 diopter (D), respectively. The mean difference between swept-source and OLCR biometry for LT and CCT measurements was 21 +/- 122 mu m and 0.15 +/- 4.51 mu m, respectively. Differences between swept-source biometry and the other devices distributed around zero without statistical significance. The standard deviation of repeatability for AL, ACD, LT, CCT, and SE was 8.8 mu m, 9.8 mu m, 2.3 mu m, 19.5 mu m, and 0.1 D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Swept-source biometry showed high repeatability performance for all biometric parameters. The agreement of AL, ACD, and SE between swept-source and PCI biometry as well as that of LT and CCT between swept-source and OLCR biometry was excellent. It remains to be validated whether high repeatability shown by swept-source biometry will result in better postoperative refractive outcomes.