Correlation with a multifocal intraocular lens of in-vitro figures of merit with clinical visual acuity.

Purpose: This study assesses the link between the in-vitro optical properties of the PODFGF multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) and its visual acuity clinical performance.

Setting: The study was conducted at TUDelft (NL), ULiege (BE), the Rothschild Institute (FR) and BVI (BE).

Design: The study analysed three powers of the PODFGF IOL. The in-vitro imaging quality was assessed using MTF frequency sweep and through-focus MTF. Multiple figures of merit, including MTF at 25-50-100 LP/mm, MTFa, and Strehl ratio, were extracted. Data acquisitions followed two ISO norms in green and white light conditions. The correlation with patients' clinical visual acuity was evaluated.

Methods: The methodology had two parts: first, characterizing the in-vitro properties of the IOL lens using Figures of Merit like MTF, MTFa, and Strehl ratio, with multiple power samples (6 to 35 D). The second part analysed the visual acuity of 413 eyes implanted with FINEVISION-HP (PODFGF). Over two years, subjective refraction, UDVA, CDVA, UIVA, DCIVA, UNVA, DCNVA, defocus curve, photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity, and rotational stability were analyzed.

Results: The correlation between in vitro MTFa evaluated from the experimental data on IOLs and the clinical visual acuity performed on implanted patients leads to an accurate prediction of vision capabilities after surgery.

Conclusion: Our study clinically demonstrates on a large patient cohort that MTFa complements single-frequency MTFs and establishes a mathematical link between MTF at 50 LP/mm, MTFa, and visual acuity. Additionally, it connects the two ISO model-eye standards and highlights the link between green and white light measurements in accurately predicting visual acuity.