Effect of intraocular lens asphericity on quality of vision after cataract removal: an intraindividual comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of intraocular lens (IOL) asphericity on quality of vision after cataract removal.


METHODS
Intraindividual, prospective, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Twenty-six cataract patients received 2, one-piece, blue-light-filtering hydrophobic acrylic IOLs each.


METHODS
One eye was implanted with a spherical (SN60AT, Alcon) and the contralateral eye with an aspheric (SN60WF, Alcon) IOL with -0.2 mum spherical aberration (SA). All trial-specific measurements (corneal topography, wavefront sensing, high-contrast visual acuity [HCVA], contrast sensitivity [CS]) were performed 6 months after surgery. A paired Student t-test or Wilcoxon test was used to check intergroup differences.


METHODS
Absolute values and intraindividual differences (Delta(i)) of corneal and ocular higher order aberrations and best-corrected visual Strehl ratio based on the optical transfer function (BCVSOTF) values for virtual pupil diameters of 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm were computed. Photopic and mesopic HCVA, photopic, and high-mesopic CS as well as high-mesopic disability glare (DG) were measured using the Frankfurt-Freiburg Contrast and Acuity Test System.


RESULTS
No intergroup difference of demographic data, pupillometry, and corneal aberrations were observed. Coma and trefoil root mean square and SA were significantly lower in the aspheric group resulting in higher BCVSOTF, mesopic HCVA, and photopic and high mesopic CS. All Delta(i) values with exception of photopic HCVA and DG indicated significantly better performance of the aspheric IOL.


CONCLUSIONS
An aspheric IOL with -0.2 microm SA provide higher quality of vision than spherical IOL in terms of retinal image quality, mesopic HCVA and CS.


BACKGROUND
Proprietary or commercial disclosures may be found after the references.
Kohnen
Thomas
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Kohnen@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Klaproth
Oliver K
OK
Bühren
Jens
J
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology