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Aspheric lenses offer best contrast sensitivity for advanced glaucoma patients
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CHICAGO — When implanting IOLs in moderate to advanced glaucoma patients, aspheric IOLs appear to offer better visual results than multifocal lenses, thus reducing additional visual loss, a physician said here.
"Best quality of vision is paramount in the visually compromised patient," Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, said at Glaucoma Day 2008, held before the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. "Presbyopia, particularly corrected with multifocal IOLs of the current generation, fairly compromises contrast sensitivity."
Dr. Lindstrom, outgoing president of the ASCRS and Chief Medical Editor of Ocular Surgery News, said aspheric lenses appear to provide the best results in glaucoma patients who have IOL implantation. He recommended that physicians use multifocal lenses only in glaucoma patients with mild visual loss that is not expected to progress.
He said that glaucoma patients have reduced contrast sensitivity caused by a loss of ganglion cells. It is important to take that into consideration when selecting lenses for glaucoma patients because physicians may have the chance to potentially enhance contrast sensitivity. Maximizing biocompatibility is also important, Dr. Lindstrom said.