Retinal straylight in patients with monofocal and multifocal intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE

To determine the differences in retinal straylight perceived by patients with monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and patients with multifocal IOLs.

SETTING

Vissum-Instituto de Oftalmológico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.

METHODS

In this prospective study, contrast sensitivity and retinal straylight were measured prospectively 6 months postoperatively in 67 eyes of 40 patients with a monofocal or multifocal IOL. In the monofocal group, a ThinOptX IOL (ThinOptX, Inc.) was implanted in 12 eyes and an Acri. Smart 48 S IOL (Acri.Tec) in 20 eyes. In the multifocal IOL group, a ReZoom IOL (Advanced Medical Optics) was implanted in 13 eyes and a ReSTOR IOL (Alcon Laboratories) in 22 eyes.

RESULTS

All measured values were similar between the monofocal and multifocal groups. Contrast sensitivity correlated significantly with the retinal straylight value (r= 0.258; P= .026) and the mean residual spherical equivalent. There was no statistically significant relationship between IOL type and the retinal straylight value (P= .089). Adjusted mean scores suggest that straylight values in the monofocal group were slightly higher than in the multifocal group. In the monofocal group, retinal straylight values were significantly correlated with pupil size (r= -0.377; P= .033). In the multifocal group, a correlation was found between retinal straylight values and contrast sensitivity (r= 0.397; P= .024). After controlling for age differences, there were no significant differences in retinal straylight between IOLs (P= .069).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences in straylight values were found between multifocal IOLs and monofocal IOLs. Pupil miosis during retinal straylight measurement and neural adaptation after multifocal IOL implantation may overcome differences between IOLs.