Accuracy of refractive outcomes using standard or total keratometry for intraocular lens power formulas in conventional cataract surgery

Purpose To evaluate if total keratometry (TK) is better than standard keratometry (K) for predicting an accurate intraocular lens (IOL) refractive outcome in virgin eyes using four IOL power calculation formulas. Methods 447 eyes that underwent monofocal intraocular lens implantation were enrolled in this study. IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditech, Jena, Germany) was used for optical biometry. Prediction error (PE), mean absolute prediction error (MAE), median absolute prediction error (MedAE), proportions of eyes within ± 0.25 diopters (D), ± 0.50 D, ± 0.75 D, ± 1.00 D, ± 2.00 D prediction error, and formula performance index (FPI) were calculated for each K- and TK-based formula. Results Overall, the accuracy of each TK and K formula was comparable. The MAEs and MedAEs showed no difference between most of the K-based and the TK-based formula; only the MAE of TK was significantly higher than that of K using the Haigis. The percent of eyes within ± 0.25 D PE for TK was not significantly different from that for K. The analysis of PE across various optical dimensions revealed that TK had no effect on the refractive results in eyes with different preoperative axial length, anterior chamber depth, keratometry, and lens thickness. The K-based Barrett Universal II formula performed excellently, showed the leading FPI score, and had the best refractive prediction outcomes among the four formulas. Conclusion TK and K can be used for IOL power calculation in monofocal IOL implantation cataract surgery in virgin eyes, as both are comparable. In all investigated formulas, the predictive accuracy of TK-based formulas is not superior to that of standard K-based formulas.