Haigis Formula IOL Intraocular Lens Power Calculations Cataract Eye Surgery Eye Cataract Surgery Eyes

2008-09-13 Which IOL Formula The keratometer index problem Now and then, there are reports on different K readings on the IOLMaster as compared to other keratometers. Also, discrepancies in IOL powers are reported comparing IOLMaster results with those obtained on ultrasound equipment even if the same input data was used. Very often, the described problems can be traced down to keratometer indices and/or to peculiarities of corneal power implementations in the IOL formulas of the respective instruments. The following article is intended to help clarify this situation. Keratometer indices A keratometer does not measure corneal power, just as an A-scan does not measure distances. The respective primary measurement parameters are 'radius of curvature' (approximation to a best fit sphere) and 'time of flight'. We, on the other hand, are interested in corneal power in [D] and e.g. axial length in [mm]; so conversion factors are needed. In keratometry, conversion is provided by a suitable keratometer index, in echobiometry by the respective velocity of sound. In the United States, the keratometer index used for conversion of radius to power is 1.3375. However, there are instruments on the market using an index different from 1.3375, e.g. American Optical, Haag-Streit: 1.336; Zeiss, Gambs, Topcon: 1.332; Hoya: 1.338. While a given patient should produce the same radii on all these instruments, his Ks will definitely be different, of the order of up to 0.8 D. (To appreciate the influence of different keratometer indices, you may want to go here and perform some online calculations with different indices and radii.) Which kind of Ks do IOL formulas expect? From the above it is clear that IOL formulas will produce different lens powers depending on the different Ks entered. Which IOL power, then, is the correct one ? The one calculated with Ks from the American Optical instrument ? Or the Hoya ? Or another one ? We'll try to anwer this question below. In some of their internal algorithms, IOL formulas are characterized by the clinical experience of their authors. This is where the empirical expressions come from in the individual formulas. Clinical experience is strongly influenced by the measurement equipment, like, for example, by keratometers with an index of 1.3375. For optimum formula performance it is essential that a patient out in the field produces the same Ks as if he were measured in the formula author's office with the instrument that ultimately delivered the empirical basis of his formula. This has in the United States - most likely been an instrument with an index of 1.3375. In fact, all of the current IOL formulas with the exception of the the Haigis formula implicitly assume that Ks originate from an instrument using 1.3375 (cf Fig.1). Fig.1: Keratometers measure radii all IOL formulas but the Haigis, however, expect Ks from an instrument with a keratometer index of 1.3375. The basic point in K transformation is that while formula authors have their own ways of calculating corneal power from measured radii R i.e. for the translation R K, the derivation of radii from measured Ks - i.e. K R - solely depends on the keratometer index used by the instrument. IOL formulas may be miscredited by 'wrong' Ks If, for example, patients would have perfect results with data from a 1.3375 keratometer, they would be off by some 0.8 D when measured on a 1.332 instrument. In the latter case, it would not be fair to say 'the formula is bad'.
Haigis Formula

Warren Hill, M.D.
IOL Intraocular Lens Power Calculations
The Haigis Formula

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Dr. Haigis
Dr. Wolfgang Haigis
  Understanding
The Haigis Formula.


One of the final frontiers in ophthalmology is the consistently accurate calculation of intraocular lens (IOL) power for all eyes.

When properly "personalized," any of the modern IOL power calculation formulas will do a good job for normal axial lengths and normal central corneal powers. However, for very long or short eyes, or for eyes with very flat or very steep corneal powers, consistently accurate IOL power calculation has remained elusive.


IOL constants and IOL power prediction

The present system of IOL constants works by simply moving the position of an IOL power prediction curve for the utilized formula up or down. For each formula, the shape of this power prediction curve is mostly fixed. The larger the IOL constant, the more IOL power each formula will recommend for the same set of measurements. And the smaller the IOL constant, the less IOL power the same formula will recommend for the same set of measurements.

It is essential to note that the shape of this curve remains the same. Other than the lens constant, these formulas treat all IOLs as if they were the exactly same and make similar assumptions for all eyes regardless of individual differences.

In reality, two eyes with the exact same axial length and the same keratometry may require completely different IOL powers. This is due to two additional variables: the actual (not assumed) distance of the lens from the cornea (known as the effective lens position) and the individual geometry of each lens model. Commonly used lens constants simply do not take this into account. These include:
SRK/T formula — uses "A-constant"

Holladay 1 formula — uses "Surgeon Factor"

Holladay 2 formula — uses "Anterior Chamber Depth" (ACD)

Hoffer Q formula — uses "Anterior Chamber Depth" (ACD)
These standard IOL constants are mostly interchangeable. Knowing one, it is possible to calculate another. In this way, surgeons can move from one formula to another for the same intraocular lens implant. The shape of the power prediction curve generated by each formula remains the same no matter which IOL is being used.

However, variations in keratometers, ultrasound machine settings and surgical techniques (such as the creation of the capsulorrhexis) can all have an impact on the refractive outcome as independent variables. "Personalizing" the lens constant for a given IOL and formula can be used to make global adjustments for a variety of practice-specific variables.

Also consider that 3rd generation 2-variable formulas (SRK/T, Hoffer Q and Holladay 1) assume that the distance from the principal plane of the cornea to the thin lens equivalent of the IOL is in part related to the axial length. That is to say, short eyes will have more shallow anterior chambers and long eyes will always have deeper anterior chambers.

We now know that this is not necessarily so. In reality, short eyes most commonly have perfectly normal anterior chamber anatomy in the pseudophakic state.

What these eyes do have is large lenses. Take out the lens and the anterior chamber dimensions, 80% of the time, are not all that different from an eye of normal axial length.

Think about when we do phaco for a patient with a short axial length and prior angle closure — what does the resultant anatomy look like? It looks just like a normal eye; and that is why all 3rd generation 2-variable formulas have a limited axial length range of accuracy. The Holladay 1, for example, works well for eyes of normal to moderately long axial lengths, while the Hoffer Q has been reported to work better for shorter axial lengths.

A recent exception to all of this is the Haigis formula, which here in North America comes as part of the IOL Master software package. Rather than moving a fixed formula-specific IOL power prediction curve up (more IOL power recommended) or down (less IOL power recommended), the Haigis formula instead uses three constants (a0, a1 and a2) to set both the position and the shape of a power prediction curve.

d = the effective lens position, where ...


    d = a0 + (a1 * ACD) + (a2 * AL)
     
    ACD is the measured anterior chamber depth of the eye (corneal vertex to the anterior lens capsule), and ...
     
    AL is the axial length of the eye; the distance from the cornea vertex, to the vitreoretinal interface.
     
  *


The a0 constant basically moves the power prediction curve up, or down, in much the same way that the A-constant, Surgeon Factor, or ACD does for the Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Hoffer Q and SRK/T formulas.
     
  * The a1 constant is tied to the measured anterior chamber depth.
     
  * The a2 constant is tied to the measured axial length.

In this way, the value for d is determined by a function, rather than a single number.

The a0, a1 and a2 constants are derived by multi-variable regression analysis from a large sample of surgeon and IOL-specific outcomes for a wide range of axial lengths and anterior chamber depths. The resulting a0, a1 and a2 constants are such that they closely match actual observed results for a specific surgeon and the individual geometry of an intraocular lens implant. This means that a portion of the mathematics of the Haigis formula is individually adjusted for each surgeon/IOL combination. Dr. Wolfgang Haigis gets high marks for this innovative approach.

The Haigis formula IOL constants will appear different than what we are normally used to seeing, as they interact with the ACD and the AL. Recall that 3rd generation 2-variable formula lens constants all basically represent the same thing, which is an attempt to predict the distance from the principal plane of the cornea to the thin lens equivalent of the IOL. In the parley of IOL mathematics, this is known as "d." The Haigis constants, when viewed all together, also determine this distance, but calculate it in a new and more flexible manner.

"d" for the five formulas commonly in use are:
SRK/T d = A-constant

Hoffer Q d = pACD

Holladay 1 d = Surgeon Factor

Holladay 2 d = ACD

Haigis d = a0 + (a1 * ACD) + (a2 * AL)
The key to highly accurate IOL power calculations is being able to correctly predict "d" for any given patient and IOL.

One way is to measure the ACD, lens thickness and axial length, and then force the formula to make adjustments based on previous observations from some large research data set. This is probably what the Holladay 2 formula does, adding or subtracting power from a Holladay 1-type IOL power prediction based on prior observations of ACD, AL, LT, Rx, corneal diameter, etc.

The calculation data base for the Holladay 2 formula is obviously substantial, as the Holladay 2 formula works exceptionally well. We've used it for eyes as short as 16 mm and as long as 38 mm. Dr. Holladay deserves high marks for what must have been painstaking research and excellent science.

Another way is to look at actual observed outcomes and adjust "d" for measured axial lengths and anterior chamber depths. This can be done by multi-variable regression analysis.

Now we're back to:
d = a0 + (a1 * ACD) + (a2 * AL)
The following example uses two different sets of actual regression analysis derived Haigis constants for two intraocular lenses with the same SRK/T A-constant of 118.40.

Lens #1 is a single piece acrylic IOL with a positive shape factor and lens #2 is a biconvex 3-piece PMMA IOL with 10° per mm of posterior haptic angulation. At first glance (as we're used to looking at an A-constant, SF, or ACD) these two sets of Haigis constants look completely different. However, they simply represent a similar power prediction curves with a slightly different shape that takes into account the differences in lens geometry between these two IOLs.

Len #1 Len #2
a0 = -1.441 a0 = 1.274
a1 = 0.064 a1 = 0.189
a2 = 0.261 a2 = 0.128

Let's look at three patients:

Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3
AL = 28.25 mm AL = 23.45 mm AL = 21.25 mm
ACD = 3.45 mm ACD = 3.25 mm ACD = 2.75 mm

Plugging into our little formula, we get for "d":

  Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3
Lens #1 6.15 4.89 4.28
Lens #2 5.54 4.89 4.51

What this shows is that in the setting of axial myopia, the Haigis formula will call for a little more power for Lens #1 than for Lens #2. For axial emmetropes, both constants will give the same IOL power. And for axial hyperopes, the Haigis formula will call for a little less power for Lens #1 than for Lens #2. This illustrates is the fact that by regression analysis it is possible to embed information regarding differences in geometry of the two IOLs within the three Haigis formula lens constants.

All of this gives the Haigis formula a new level of mathematical flexibility not yet before seen in ophthalmology. As the a0, a1 and a2 Haigis constants for the more commonly used IOLs become established, and the Haigis formula begins to be included with ultrasound machines, this formula will understandably gain in popularity.

Dr. Haigis is a PhD, rather than an MD, and the Head of the Biometry Department at the University of Wurzburg Eye Hospital and the Users Group for Laser Interference Biometry (ULIB). As such, he brings to this exercise the formal training of a mathematician and physicist, to facilitate our understanding of the essentially non-linear relationship between IOL power, ACD, Ks and axial length.

Click here to go to our download page for a free Excel spreadsheet you can use to derive your own set of a0, a1 and a2 Haigis constants and a set of instructions for submitting this data to Dr. Hill in North America or Dr. Haigis in Europe.

As an original innovation, the Haigis formula holds out the promise of a new level of mathematical flexibility for increasing the accuracy of all IOL power calculations.

Intraocular Lens Power Calculations

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Cataract Surgery

2008-09-13This statement would be wrong, because the formula actually is good but the input data was definitely bad. To prevent this from happening, it is reasonable to go back to the actually measured parameters - namely radii of curvature - because they should be identical irrespective of the instrument used. Once radii are obtained, they can be re-converted into Ks again, this time using 1.3375. Thus, the formulas get what they want (namely Ks from 1.3375 sources) and can process these Ks in whichever way they want. So, to prevent IOL formulas from being miscredited by wrong input data in a world where there is more than one keratometer index, a 2-stage procedure seems reasonable: 1. start out from radii of curvature or convert back from Ks to radii making allowance for the calibration of the source instrument, 2. use the keratometer index (1.3375) which the IOL formula expects to have been used during keratometry. How the IOLMaster handles the K problem The IOLMaster makes use of the above approach. The index of the keratometry source has to be input under 'options-setup-program-keratometer-refractive index' (user manual, page 20; cf Fig.2). In IOLMaster instruments for the US market, the default setting is 1.3375. For other countries, the factory-set value is 1.332. Fig.2: If, in the IOLMaster, Ks are manually entered in diopters, the refractive index set here (under 'options-setup-program-keratometer-refractive index') is used to convert Ks into radii. Each IOL formula in the IOLMaster by itself makes sure internally that the correct conversion is subsequently applied for power calculations. This setting, however, is only relevant if K readings are manually entered in diopters. In case the IOLMaster keratometry is used for IOL calculation, no problems occur. Problems can only show up if 1. Ks are manually entered in diopters, and, at the same time, 2. the index under 'options-setup-program-keratometer-refractive index' has not been choosen properly i.e. according to the index the external keratometer actually uses. To further illustrate the situation: problems will e.g. occur in the following cases: - if a German surgeon has not changed the default index setting (1.332) and enters Ks e.g. from a Javal type keratometer (index=1.3375) - if an American surgeon has not changed the default index setting (1.3375) and enters Ks e.g. from a Gambs keratometer (index=1.332) - if someone has fiddled around with the index setting and Ks are entered in diopters - if Ks are entered from different K sources when no allowance is made for the individual K source indices. No problems will arise - if the German has not changed the default index setting (1.332) and enters Ks from a keratometer with an index of 1.332, or - if the American has not changed the default index setting (1.3375) and enters Ks from a keratometer with an index of 1.3375, or - the IOLMaster keratometry is used, i.e. no Ks are entered manually. How do ultrasound systems handle the K problem ? Ultrasound devices mostly do not distinguish between different 'K modes' but usually assume an index of 1.3375 to hold. To check out the effect of different K sources you may deliberately produce an approximate 0.8 D difference relative to an ultrasound device by proceeding as follows: 1. set the index to 1.332 under 'options-setup-program-keratometer-refractive index' in your IOLMaster, 2. enter Ks manually in diopters, 3. compare results on the IOLMaster and the A-scan. Therefore, for comparison purposes with most A-scan equipment in the United States, in the IOLMaster's setup menu. correct index in your IOLMaster Which formula, which equipment is affected by the K problem ? The described problem will affect all biometry devices, all IOL formulas, and, likewise, all computer programs for IOL calculations if Ks are entered in diopters. If whoever enters Ks originating e.g. from a Haag-Streit keratometerinto any K-accepting IOL program - running in the IOLMaster, in any A-scan, on any computer - he will stand a good chance to receive different IOL power than when he had measured the patient with a Javal type instrument. In the IOLMaster, however, this problem can be overcome as has been discussed in the foregoing. The difficulties described reflect a basic problem between primary and secondary measurement parameters and certainly contribute to reasons confusing comparisons of IOL formula performance.
 
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