AIM: To evaluate and compare the accuracy of IOL-Master and A-scan in measuring the axial length of silicone oil-filled eyes, and to explore the clinical value of IOL-Master in calculating intraocular lens diopter of the silicone oil-filled eyes.

METHODS: An analysis was made of 30 patients(30 eyes)who received cataract surgery combined with silicone oil removal in our hospital from June 2012 to December 2012. Before the operation and one month afterwards, the axial length was measured by both IOL-Master and A-scan, and all the results were divided into two groups: A-scan group and IOL-Master group. Then we used IOL-Master to calculate the intraocular lens diopter and to estimate the postoperative refraction. Postoperative refraction was measured one month after operation and compared with the preoperative estimates.

RESULTS: Before silicon oil removal, there was significant difference between the axial lengths obtained by IOL-Master and those by A-scan, with the former much smaller than the latter. After the operation, there was no significant difference between the axial lengths obtained by the two methods. The axial lengths measured by IOL-Master before and after operation were not significantly different. No significant difference was observed between the postoperative refraction and the preoperative estimates, either.

CONCLUSION: IOL-Master is a more preferable method to measure axial length than A-scan. However, in cases where IOL-Master cannot be applied, A-scan together with other methods should be used.