In theprospectivestudyof56patientswithcataract (67eyes)theauthorscompared axial length biometry) regarding to postoperative refraction of the eyes. Dioptric power of the intraocular lens (IOL) was determined by SRK II. formula. The difference between predicted and actual postoperative refraction in the spherical equivalent were compared 3 months postoperatively. Axial length measured by ultrasound differed significantly from the axial length measured by optical biometry (p=0.016). Dioptric power of IOL calculated according to the axial length measured by ultrasound was significantly different from the dioptric power of IOL calculated according to the axial length measured by optical biometry (p=0.003). The difference between predicted and actual postoperative refraction was not statistically significant (p=0.384) even if we considered both type of measurement. In conclusion, we found partial coherence interferometry was an accurate and reproducible method for measurement of axial length of the eyebefore cataract surgery. In the cases of advanced dense cataracts backup of ultrasonic biometry is still necessary.

        Key words: cataract, ultrasound biometry, optical biometry, SRK II formula, predicted and actual postoperative refraction