Measurement of the axial length of cataract eyes by laser Doppler interferometry.

PURPOSE To examine the applicability of the recently developed laser Doppler interferometry technique for measuring the axial length of cataract eyes in a realistic clinical situation. To determine the performance of the instrument as a function of cataract grade. To compare the results to those of ultrasound methods. METHODS A total of 196 cataract eyes of 100 patients were examined. The axial eye length was determined by laser Doppler interferometry and by two different ultrasound techniques, the applanation technique and the immersion technique. The cataract grade was determined by a commercial instrument that measures backscattered light. RESULTS Laser Doppler interferometry worked very well except in the cases of the highest cataract grades (4% of the eyes of this study were not measurable because of a too-high lens density). Only 3.5% of the other eyes were not measurable because of fixation problems of the patients. The precision of laser Doppler interferometry is not influenced by the cataract grade (except the highest grade). The standard deviation of the geometric eye length is approximately 20 microns. Linear regression analysis revealed a very good correlation of laser Doppler interferometry and ultrasonic measurements, but a systematic difference was found. The eye lengths measured by laser Doppler interferometry were about 0.18 mm longer than those measured by the immersion technique and about 0.47 mm longer than those measured by the applanation technique. CONCLUSION These differences are attributed to the laser Doppler interferometry results including the retinal thickness and indentation of the cornea by the applanation technique. The main advantages of the laser Doppler interferometry technique are high precision, high accuracy, and more comfort for the patient because it is a noncontact method, anesthesia is unnecessary, and the risk of corneal infection is avoided.