Comparison of axial length using a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometer - ARGOS with partial coherence interferometry- based biometer -IOLMaster among school children.

PURPOSE: To compare the axial length measurements obtained by a new swept source optical coherence tomography based biometer-ARGOS with partial coherence interferometry based biometer -IOL master in school children between the ages of 11-17.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional, device comparison study was conducted in a school vision screening program comparing the axial length (AL) and corneal curvature (K) measurements obtained by two biometers- ARGOS and IOL master. Children with 6/9 vision or better, without any ocular abnormalities were included in the study. Two trained optometrists performed the measurements and were masked for the outcome measures.

RESULTS

The sample size was 188 with a mean(SD) age of 13.88±1.69 years, of which 101 were boys. The mean (SD) AL was 23.94± 1.01 mm with Argos and 23.83 ± 1.03 mm with IOL Master (paired t-test, p>0.05). The mean K was 43.62D±1.59 with Argos and 43.64D±1.61 with IOL master (paired t-test, p>0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between the biometers for AL (r = 1.00, p<0.0001) and K (r = 0.99, p<0.0001). The mean difference in axial length between the two biometers was 0.11± 0.04 mm and the limits of agreement were between -0.02 to -0.19. The mean difference in corneal curvature was 0.02±0.15D and the limits of agreement were between -0.28 to 0.32D.

CONCLUSION

Axial length measurements using SS-OCT and PCI based biometers were in agreement and comparable among children between the ages of 11 to 17.