Calculating axial length in the aphakic and the pseudophakic eye

The axial length of 149 eyes (84 pseudophakic and 65 aphakic) was calculated by refractive means and compared with the axial length determined by ultrasound. The mean error (+/- SD) between the measured and the calculated axial length (measured minus calculated) was 0.02 mm (+/- 0.51) and 0.13 mm (+/- 0.54) for the aphakic and the pseudophakic eyes, respectively. The mean error was not significantly different from zero (P greater than .05). Calculation of the axial length may represent a valuable alternative to biometry for the aphakic and the pseudophakic eye.