Chord mu and chord alpha as postoperative predictors in multifocal intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: With the aging population, the prevalence of presbyopia and the popularity of multifocal intraocular lenses is also growing worldwide. Unfortunately, in some cases, they are still associated with postoperative visual disturbances. Recent literature started to evaluate angle kappa- and angle alpha-derived metrics of chord mu and chord alpha as possible predictive values for visual outcomes after multifocal intraocular lens implantation but the published results are inconsistent between studies. Thus, this article aims to review the role of chord mu and chord alpha as postoperative predictors after multifocal intraocular lens implantation and lay the foundation for further research. METHODS: Relevant articles were identified using the following keywords: "presbyopia," "multifocal intraocular lens," "angle kappa," "angle alpha," "Chord mu," and "Chord alpha" up to June 2022. An attempt was made to present the majority of publications that addressed the topic. CONCLUSIONS: Chord mu and chord alpha have a predictive role on the outcomes after multifocal intraocular lens implantation but to a different extent. Cataract surgeons should take them into consideration and avoid implanting a multifocal intraocular lens for patients with speculated critical values of chord mu and alpha above 0.5-0.6 mm, depending on the device used for measurement and the multifocal intraocular lens implanted. Currently, chord alpha seems to be a more stable, more widely applicable, and reliable determinant in predicting postoperative outcomes and in patient selection prior to multifocal intraocular lens implantation when compared to chord mu. To draw conclusions on the topic, a controlled study is needed.

Influence of a multifocal intraocular lens centration and eye angles on light distortion and ocular scatter index.

PURPOSE: To assess how eye axes and multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) centration may impact the light distortion index (LDI) and ocular scatter index (OSI). METHODS: Fifty-eight subjects implanted with the trifocal MIOL Q-Flex M 640PM or Liberty 677MY (Medicontur) were included in this retrospective analysis. The following variables were collected with the Pentacam Wave (Oculus) considering the vertex normal as the coordinates center: chord-mu to the center of the pupil, chord-alpha to the geometrical center of the cornea, and chord-MIOL to the center of the diffractive ring. These measurements were correlated with OSI (HD Analyzer, Visiometrics) and LDI (light distortion analyzer, CEORLab). RESULTS: Chord-MIOL centroid was 0.12 mm at 62°, chord-mu was 0.09 mm at 174°, and chord-alpha was 0.38 mm at 188°. A relationship was found between OSI and LDI, rho = 0.58, p < 0.0005). No relationships were found between chord-mu or chord-alpha and the LDI or OSI, neither for the total magnitude, nor the decomposition in orthogonal components (p > 0.05). The LDI was significantly correlated with the temporal centration of the MIOL versus the vertex normal (rho = 0.32, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: As opposed to what has been previously described, the temporal centration of the MIOL was related to a decrease in the LDI. Future studies with extreme values of the included variables are required to establish cut-offs for considering these variables as exclusion criteria in the implantation of a MIOL.

Evaluating Changes in Apparent Chord Mu after Pharmacological Pupil Dilatation.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative measurements of apparent chord mu length above 0.6 mm have been associated with higher risks for photic phenomena after cataract surgery with multifocal intraocular lenses (MFIOLs). METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients scheduled for elective cataract surgery at a single tertiary medical center between 2021 and 2022. Pupil diameter and apparent chord mu length were analyzed for eyes with biometry measurements from IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, AG) under photopic light conditions, before and after pharmacological pupil dilatation. Exclusion criteria were visual acuity worse than 20/100, prior intraocular surgery, refractive surgery, iris-related procedures, or pupil abnormalities affecting dilatation. Apparent chord mu lengths before and after pupil dilatation were compared. In addition, multivariate linear regression analysis, using a stepwise method, was conducted to assess possible predictors of apparent chord values. RESULTS: Included were 87 eyes of 87 patients. Mean chord mu length increased after pupillary dilatation from 0.32 ± 0.17 mm to 0.41 ± 0.17 mm for right eyes (p < 0.001) and from 0.29 ± 0.16 mm to 0.40 ± 0.22 mm for left eyes (p < 0.001). Seven eyes (8.0%) had an apparent chord mu of 0.6 mm and above pre-dilatation. Fourteen eyes (16.1%) with an apparent chord mu under 0.6 mm pre-dilatation had apparent chord mu of 0.6 mm or above post-dilatation. CONCLUSION: Apparent chord mu length significantly increases after pharmacological pupillary dilatation. Pupil size and dilatation status should always be considered during patient selection for a planned MFIOL using apparent chord mu length as a reference marker.

Repeatability and Agreement of Chord Mu between Scheimpflug Tomography and Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate repeatability and agreement of chord mu between Scheimpflug tomography (Pentacam HR) and sweptsource optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer (IOLMaster 700). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 63 eyes from 33 patients were included. Chord mu, X and Y Cartesian distances between the corneal vertex and the pupil center (Px and Py), and the pupil diameter were compared using two instruments. Repeatability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), and within-subject standard deviation (Sw). Interdevice agreement was evaluated using paired t-tests and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: Although Sw values for all parameters were similar between the two devices, CoV values of chord mu and pupil diameter were lower, and ICC values of those parameters were higher, in the IOLMaster 700 than in the Pentacam HR. Chord mu and pupil diameter values were higher in IOLMaster 700 than Pentacam HR (p < 0.01). The width of the 95% limit of agreement was wide for all parameters. CONCLUSIONS: IOLMaster 700 showed better repeatability than Pentacam HR in chord mu, Px, Py, and pupil diameter values. Because there were statistically significant differences and a low level of agreement in chord mu and pupil diameter values between the two devices, they cannot be used interchangeably.

Chord Mu (µ) and Chord Alpha (α) Length Changes in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy before and after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) Surgery.

This paper will evaluate chord mu and alpha length in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and its changes following Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Patients with FECD that underwent DMEK surgery were included in this retrospective study. Scheimpflug Tomography was carried out in order to calculate chord mu and chord alpha lengths prior to surgery and at 3 and 12 months postoperative. This study included 27 eyes from 27 patients. Significant changes in chord mu were observed within the first three months (from 0.47 ± 0.32 to 0.29 ± 0.21 mm, p < 0.01) and remained stable 12 months postoperative (0.30 ± 0.21 mm, p > 0.05). However, chord alpha remained stable throughout the 12 months post surgery (from 0.53 ± 0.19 to 0.49 ± 0.14 mm, p > 0.05). In addition to the pupillary center distance from the corneal center (from 0.35 ± 0.25 to 0.34 ± 0.20 mm, p > 0.05) also remain stable. In FECD patients undergoing DMEK surgery, chord mu length decreased, and chord alpha length remained stable after 12 months of follow-up.