Clinical and theoretical results of intraocular lens power calculation for cataract surgery after photorefractive keratectomy for myopia

OBJECTIVES: To describe the refractive results of cataract surgery after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for patients with myopia, and to find a more accurate method to predict intraocular lens (IOL) power in these cases.

DESIGN: Nonrandomized, retrospective clinical study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients (15 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery after prior PRK to correct myopia were identified. The medical records of both the laser and cataract surgery centers were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eight different keratometric values (K values; measured or calculated) were entered into 3 different IOL calculation formulas: SRK/T, Holladay 1, and Hoffer Q. The actual biometry and IOL parameters were used to predict postoperative refraction, which was compared with the actual refractive outcome. Also, the relative underestimation of the refractive change in corneal dioptric power by keratometry after PRK was calculated.

RESULTS: In 7 of 15 eyes, IOL exchange or piggybacking was performed because of hyperopia. Retrospectively, the most accurate K value for IOL calculation was found to be the pre-PRK K value corrected by the spectacle plane change in refraction. Use of the Hoffer Q formula would have avoided postoperative hyperopia in more cases than the other formulas. The mean underestimation of the change in corneal power after PRK varied from 42% to 74%, depending on the method of calculation.

CONCLUSION: The predictability of IOL calculation for cataract surgery after PRK can be improved by using a corrected, refraction-derived K value instead of the measured, preoperative K value.