Increased contrast sensitivity possible with Tecnis lens, surgeons say

PHILADELPHIA — An IOL with a modified anterior optic surface may help reduce the eye’s own spherical aberration, according to presentations here.

Interim results with Pharmacia’s Tecnis IOL with Z-Sharp optic technology indicate the lens demonstrates “significantly better contrast sensitivity” than standard IOLs, said Mark Packer, MD.

Dr. Packer said a randomized, inter-individual clinical study showed that eyes implanted with the Tecnis IOL achieved better contrast sensitivity than eyes with a standard IOL at 3, 6, 12 and 18 cycles per degree spatial frequencies under photopic conditions and at 3 and 6 cycles per degree under mesopic conditions. Dr. Packer’s data showed a 38% improvement in mesopic contrast sensitivity and a 42% improvement in photopic contrast sensitivity at the peak region, he said.

“This data suggests wavefront technology will allow us to address the problem of spherical aberration and contrast sensitivity inherent in current IOL technology,” Dr. Packer said.

A second study in Germany found similar results.

Ulrich Mester, MD, analyzed 74 eyes in a randomized clinical study. Dr. Mester’s wavefront analysis showed that eyes with the Tecnis IOL had “almost no spherical aberration” compared with eyes that received a control spherical IOL (which had a positive spherical aberration of 0.8 D).

“Our clinical results support the theoretical, pre-clinical calculations that the spherical aberration of the eye after cataract surgery can be improved by modifying the anterior surface of the IOL,” Dr. Mester said.

Pharmacia’s Tecnis lens is based on the company’s CeeOn Edge IOL. Using wavefront technology, Pharmacia modified the anterior lens surface to create the Tecnis.

The Tecnis foldable IOL has not yet been launched in the United States.