Comparison of anterior chamber depths measured using the Pentacam, the IOLMaster, and ultrasound pachymetry

AIM: To investigate and compare anterior chamber depths(ACDs)measured using the Pentacam, the IOLMaster, and ultrasound pachymetry(US).METHODS: The present study was observational in nature. ACDs were measured in 138 eyes of 69 myopic patients, by the same operator, using the Pentacam, the IOLMaster, and US. We assessed the agreement among the three methods using Bland-Altman plots. The repeatability among the three methods was evaluated by within-subject standard deviation. RESULTS: The means±SDs of ACDs measured using the Pentacam, the IOLMaster, and US were 3.77±0.24, 3.73±0.23, and 3.69±0.22mm respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed that Pentacam and IOLMaster data were in good agreement(CoA, 0.04mm; LoA,0.05 to 0.13mm), as were US and IOLMaster data(CoA, 0.04mm; LoA, 0.17 to 0.08mm), but the Pentacam ACD values were slightly greater than the US figures(CoA, 0.08mm; LoA, 0.06 to 0.22mm). Measurements of the ACD with the three devices also showed high repeatability(Sw=0.03, 0.02, and 0.03; 2.77 Sw=0.08, 0.06, and 0.08, respectively). The three depth estimates were positively correlated(r=0.946, 0.987, and 0.951; PCONCLUSION: Measurement of ACDs using the Pentacam, the IOLMaster, and US showed good agreement and repeatability. The Pentacam and IOLMaster ACDs, and the IOLMaster and US ACDs, agreed reasonably well, but agreement between the Pentacam and US data was poorer. However, both the absolute differences and the coefficients of variation were small, and the observed variability was likely not clinically significant.