title: Silicone intraocular lens resolution in air and in water.
abstract: The resolution efficiencies of 31 biconvex silicone intraocular lenses, ranging in power from 16.0 to 23.5 diopters, were tested in air and in water to see if a predictable relationship existed as previously reported with polymethylmethacrylate lenses. Resolution efficiency is defined as the percentage ratio of the actual resolving power of a lens to that of a perfect lens of the same focal length which is only limited in resolution by diffraction. The lenses ranged from 29% to 58% resolution efficiency in air. No lenses exhibiting multiple images were included. All 31 lenses achieved at least 73% resolution efficiency in water, and one lens achieved 82%. Based on these findings, a biconvex silicone lens that exceeds 30% resolution efficiency in air and does not produce multiple images can perform near its diffraction limit when implanted in the eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hermann Eye Center, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Holladay
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Koester
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Portney
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Willis
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D012031:Refractometry; D012828:Silicones; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones; D014867:Water