Evaluation of Axial Length and Refractive Outcomes in Patients With Dense Vitreous Hemorrhage Who Have Phacovitrectomy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the axial length (AL) measurement and refractive results in patients with dense vitreous hemorrhage who had phacovitrectomy and investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound biometry in this population. Methods: This study included patients with cataracts and a dense vitreous hemorrhage who had phacovitrectomy (Group 1) and a control group of patients with cataracts who had phacoemulsification only (Group 2). The AL was measured preoperatively using A-scan contact ultrasound in Group 1 and partial coherence interferometry (PCI)–based biometry (IOLMaster 500) in Group 2. Postoperatively, the AL was measured using A-scan contact ultrasound and PCI-based biometry in Group 1. The refractive error was measured preoperatively and postoperatively in both groups with an autorefractometer (KR-1). The primary outcome measures were the preoperative and postoperative AL and refractive outcomes. Results: In Group 1, the median AL was as follows: preoperative, 23.33 mm with ultrasound (I); postoperative, 23.18 mm with PCI biometry (II); postoperative, 23.44 mm with ultrasound (III) (I-II, P = .04; I-III, P = .01; II-III, P < .01). The AL measured preoperatively with ultrasound and postoperatively with PCI biometry had a statistically significant strong positive correlation with a high-reliability coefficient compared with the AL measured preoperatively and postoperatively with ultrasound. The median prediction error and absolute prediction error were similar in both groups. Conclusions: Ultrasound biometry is effective for intraocular lens calculation and AL measurement in eyes with a dense vitreous hemorrhage. This imaging modality may result in near-optimum refractive outcomes.