Intraocular lens calculation using the ESCRS online calculator in pediatric eyes undergoing lens extraction

Purpose: To evaluate the ESCRS online calculator for intraocular lens (IOL) calculation in children undergoing lens extraction and primary IOL implantation. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Design: Retrospective, consecutive case series. Methods: Eyes that received phacoemulsification and IOL implantation (Acrysof SN60AT) due to congenital or juvenile cataract were included. We compared the mean prediction error (MPE), mean and median absolute prediction error (MAE, MedAE) of formulas provided by the recently introduced online calculator provided by the ESCRS with the SRK/T formula, as well as the number of eyes within ±0.5 diopters (D), ±1.0 D, ±2.0 D of target refraction. Postoperative spherical equivalent was measured by retinoscopy 4 to 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: 60 eyes from 47 patients with a mean age of 6.5 ± 3.2 years met the inclusion criteria. Mean axial length was 22.27 ± 1.19 mm. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was −0.25 ± 3.78 D, and mean postoperative SE was 0.69 ± 1.53 D. The MedAE was lowest in the SRK/T formula (0.56 D, ± 1.03) performed significantly better ( P = .037) than Hoffer QST and Kane, followed by BUII (0.64 D, ± 0.92), Pearl DGS (0.65 D, ± 0.94), EVO (0.69 D, ± 0.94), Hoffer QST (0.75 D, ± 0.99), and Kane (0.78 D, ± 0.99). All of those were significantly above zero ( P < .001). 41 eyes received an intraoperative optic capture (68%). When excluding eyes that did not receive intraoperative optic capture (n = 19; 32%), the MedAE was shown to be lower. Conclusions: Using modern IOL calculation formulas provided by the ESCRS calculator provides good refractive predictability and compares for most of the formulas with the results with SRK/T. In addition, the formulas seem to anticipate the postoperative refraction better for eyes that receive a posterior optic capture.