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Multifocal lenses not an advisable option in glaucoma patients, physician says
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PARIS — Multifocal lenses in glaucoma patients should be used with caution and are perhaps better avoided in most cases, according to one surgeon speaking at the French Society of Ophthalmology meeting.
"This topic is extremely interesting because POAG is a frequent pathology and because cataract surgery is often performed in these patients, alone or in combination with filtration surgery. On the other hand, premium lenses are becoming increasingly popular, and many glaucoma patients now ask for this kind of implants," Carole Burillon, MD, said.
However, the multifocal choice has a role in the visual outcome of glaucoma patients, and glaucoma has a role in the performance of multifocal lenses.
On the whole, the disadvantages of implanting this lens outweigh the advantages, primarily because glaucoma patients have a reduced contrast sensitivity and multifocal lenses are likely to exacerbate this problem, Dr. Burillon said.
In addition, filtration surgery, performed at the same time or after the implantation of the lens, produces anatomical modifications of the anterior chamber that may lead to errors in biometric calculations.
Finally, analysis of optic nerve modifications in the follow-up of these patients is crucial, and the optic design of multifocal implants may be an obstacle to precise OCT imaging, GDx and fundus examination.