Improvements in visual function early after cataract surgery in eyes implanted with multifocal intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To compare the improvements in all-distance visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity early after cataract surgery among eyes implanted with multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Study design: Nonrandomized comparative study.

Methods: Forty-two eyes with a trifocal IOL (Alcon, PanOptix^®), 42 eyes with a combined bifocal and extended-depth-of-focus (EDF) IOL (Johnson & Johnson, Synergy^®), and 84 eyes with a monofocal IOL were recruited. Uncorrected or corrected VA at various distances, and photopia and mesopic contrast VA were examined at 1 day and 3 months postoperatively. Improvements in these VAs were compared between time points and among groups.

Results: Mean uncorrected as well as corrected VA improved significantly between 1 day and 3 months postoperatively at almost all distances in the trifocal and combined bifocal + EDF groups (P ≤ 0.018), and at the intermediate distance of 1.0 m and far distances in the monofocal group (P ≤ 0.031). Mean improvements in near uncorrected VA at 0.3 m, intermediate VA at 0.5 m, and far VA at 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 m were significantly greater in the multifocal groups than in the monofocal group (P ≤ 0.032). Improvements in photopic and mesopic contrast VA at most contrasts were significantly better in the multifocal groups (P ≤ 0.021).

Conclusion: Mean uncorrected or corrected VA at almost all distances and contrast sensitivity at most contrasts improved significantly early after surgery in eyes implanted with multifocal IOLs, and the improvements in VA at most distances and in contrast sensitivity were better with multifocal IOLs than with monofocal IOLs.