Multifocal diffractive add-on IOL suitable alternative

Multifocal diffractive add-on IOL is a suitable alternative to standard multifocal IOLs for sulcus fixation.

The prospective controlled clinical trial, led by Dr Jens Schrecker, Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany, included 65 eyes of 37 patients.

Of the patients studied, 34 eyes of 20 patients underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of a monofocal IOL in the capsular bag and an additional aberration-free diffractive IOL in the ciliary sulcus. The remaining 31 eyes of 17 patients were fitted with an aberration-correcting diffractive posterior chamber IOL.

Outcome measurements included uncorrected and distance-corrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities; contrast sensitivity and defocus curve were performed three months postoperatively.

There were no complications with cataract surgery, IOL implantation or the postoperative course. There were no significant differences in uncorrected and distance-corrected distance, intermediate, or near visual acuities between the two groups.

In both groups the median uncorrected distance visual acuity was 0.00 logMAR uncorrected near visual acuity was 0.10 logMAR. Contrast sensitivity testing was significantly better in the multifocal add-on IOL group, namely at spatial frequencies over 1.5 cycles per degree. The overall visual performance with a multifocal diffractive add-on IOL was equivalent to that obtained with the multifocal diffractive PC IOL.

The abstract can be viewed in the latest edition of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.