Comparison of Different Corneal Power Readings From Pentacam in Post-laser In Situ Keratomileusis Eyes.

Objectives: To compare the various Pentacam-measured K-readings with the clinical history method (CHM) in eyes that have undergone myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: In this prospective study, Pentacam examination was performed in 71 eyes 1 month after myopic LASIK. The true net power (TNP) 4 mm, total corneal refractive power (TCRP) 4 mm, equivalent K-reading (EKR) 4.0 mm, and EKR 4.5 mm obtained from the same scan were compared with the K derived from CHM.

Results: The average baseline spherical equivalence was -5.44±2.38 D. After LASIK, the mean KCHM was 37.67±2.13 D, TCRP4mm was 37.14±1.79 D, TNP4mm was 36.88±1.76 D, EKR4.0mm was 37.58±1.94 D, and EKR4.5mm was 37.51±1.94 D. TCRP4mm, TNP4mm, and EKR4.5mm showed a statistically significant deviation from the KCHM, with the mean error being 0.53 D, 0.79 D, and 0.16 D, respectively (P<0.05). Only the EKR4.0mm showed no statistically significant difference from the KCHM (mean error 0.09 D, P=0.23). The EKR4.0mm also had the narrowest 95% limits of agreement (LoA) (-1.10 to +1.28 D), whereas both TCRP4mm and TNP4mm had a wider LoA (-0.88 to +1.95 D and -0.62 to +2.20 D, respectively). All four Pentacam K-readings had a strong and statistically significant correlation with the KCHM.

Conclusions: Using the CHM as reference, the EKR4.0mm demonstrated the closest agreement when compared with the EKR4.5mm, TNP4mm, and TCRP4mm obtained from the same scan.