Comparison of visual performance with blue light-filtering and ultraviolet light-filtering intraocular lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the contrast sensitivity, glare, color perception, and visual acuity at different light intensities with yellow-tinted and clear intraocular lenses (IOLs) by different manufacturers.


METHODS
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Retinology and Biomicroscopic Laser-Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Rudolf Foundation Clinic, Vienna, Austria.


METHODS
Comparative case series.


METHODS
Eyes were randomized to 1 of the following IOLs: AF-1 (UY) (yellow tinted), AcrySof SN60AT (yellow tinted), AF-1 (UV) (clear), or AcrySof SA60AT (clear). One week and 2 months postoperatively, monocular contrast sensitivity function and color discrimination were tested and the corrected distance and near visual acuities were evaluated. All tests were performed under different light intensities (10 to 1000 lux).


RESULTS
Of the 80 patients enrolled, 76 completed the study; there were 37 eyes in the yellow-tinted IOL group and 39 in the clear IOL group. There were no significant differences between yellow-tinted IOLs and clear IOLs except in color vision under mesopic conditions (10 lux). Patients with a yellow-tinted IOL made significantly more mistakes in the blue-light spectrum than patients with clear IOLs (P = .00015). There was no significant difference under photopic conditions (1000 lux).


CONCLUSIONS
The yellow-tinted IOLs were equivalent to the clear IOLs in postoperative contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and color perception under photopic conditions. Patients with yellow-tinted IOLs made statistically significantly more mistakes in the blue range under dim light than patients with clear IOLs.
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Retinology and Biomicroscopic Lasersurgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Rudolf Foundation Clinic Vienna, Vienna, Austria. beatrix.neumaierammerer@wienkav.at
Beatrix
B
Neumaier-Ammerer
Stefan
S
Felke
Stefan
S
Hagen
Paulina
P
Haas
Florian
F
Zeiler
Harald
H
Mauler
Susanne
S
Binder
D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008027:Light; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*