Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to judge whether differences in the experience of the examiner might account for a difference in accuracy in measuring axial length using A-mode ultrasonic device. In this experiment, a skilled examiner and an unskilled examiner were selected to measure the axial length of the same patient. Postoperative results were then compared. The same ophthalmologist operated on all patients using the same surgical procedure and inserted the same type of intraocular lens. These patients showed no complications during the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative period. Follow-ups were done on the patients for more than three months after surgery. In the present study, a total of 280 eyes was reviewed. The eyes were divided into three groups, according to axial length. Differences in predictive error were obtained from each examiner for comparison. Personalized A-constants obtained from the skilled examiner and unskilled examiner exceeded the value recommended by the manufacturer by approximately 0.5. Personalized A-constants by axial length were obtained and compared with the A-constant recommended by the manufacturer. The difference was used to calculate predictive error. The results obtained from the skilled examiner were as follows: 0.49±0.48D (short eye group), 0.43±0.64D (normal eye group), and 0.10±0.79D (long eye group). The results obtained from the unskilled examiner were as follows: 0.63±0.58D (short eye group), 0.49±0.65D (normal eye group), and 0.37±0.66D (long eye group). There was no significant difference between the results obtained from the two examiners. Although a slight difference in predictive error was recognized between the two examiners, the measuring accuracy of an unskilled examiner under the guidance of a skilled examiner did not seem to differ from the measuring accuracy of a skilled examiner. In order to improve predictive accuracy, we should recognize the errors that examiners tend to make. Moreover, each examiner needs sufficient measuring experience.
