Clinical Ophthalmology

Intraocular Lens Power Calculation in Cataract Surgery: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives

Modern cataract surgery aims not only to improve visual acuity but, above all, to achieve a precise and predictable refractive outcome. Despite major advances in surgical techniques, diagnostic technology, and intraocular lens design, postoperative refractive surprises still occur. According to EUREQUO data, only 73.7% of patients undergoing cataract surgery achieve a prediction error within ±0.50 D. At the same time, patient expectations continue to rise, and many patients no longer accept the need for additional spectacle or contact lens correction after surgery. Increasingly, they expect excellent unaided vision in the operated eye.

IOL power calculation has therefore become one of the most critical components of modern cataract surgery. With approximately 30 million cataract procedures performed worldwide each year, IOL power is calculated around 30 million times annually. The history of IOL power calculation dates back to 1967, when Svyatoslav Fyodorov published the first mathematical formula for IOL power calculation. Over subsequent decades, successive generations of formulas were developed, culminating in the application of artificial intelligence to IOL power calculation by Gerald Clarke and Jeanne Burmeister in 1997. Despite remarkable technological progress and the rapid development of artificial intelligence, there is still no single universal formula capable of providing consistently precise results in every patient.

This Article Collection aims to present current challenges and advances in IOL power calculation, including (but not limited to):

• The performance of contemporary calculation formulas
• The role of artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Strategies for challenging eyes and complex clinical situations

We invite authors to share their original research, clinical experience, and practical insights, as well as to address emerging perspectives and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. Original research articles, review articles, and meta analyses are welcome. (Please note that meta-analyses require a pre-submission check prior to submission.)

Submission Instructions:

During submission (in step 2 "About paper"), you will see a question asking "Are you interested in submitting to an article collection?" Please select the radio dial for "Yes". Then select "Intraocular Lens Power Calculation in Cataract Surgery: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives" from the drop down menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo full peer review; Guest Advisors will not be handling submitted articles. Please review the journal’s aims and scope and author submission instructions prior to submission. Standard Article Publishing Charges apply.

Authors interested in the responsible use of AI should review Taylor & Francis's AI policies.

If you have any questions about this Article Collection, please contact Krista Thom at Krista.Thom@taylorandfrancis.com.

Guest Advisor:

Dr. Wiktor Stopyra is the Chief Medical, Scientific and Educational Consultant at MW-med Eye Center in Krakow, Poland. He also lectures at the University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Targ, Poland. His research interests include IOL power calculation formulas, cataracts, artificial intelligence, and ophthalmological certification.

Disclosure Statement: Dr. Stopyra discloses no conflicts of interest.