Multifocal, monofocal combination has high patient satisfaction

SAN FRANCISCO – Implanting one multifocal and one monofocal lens can offer patients improved near and distance vision, said Richard Tipperman, MD, here at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

Dr. Tipperman suggested surgeons consider piggyback placement of ReSTOR IOLs (Alcon) in patients who previously had bilateral monofocal IOLs implanted. He presented results from a subset study of 10 patients implanted with the ReSTOR lens in one eye and the AcrySof monofocal lens (Alcon) in the fellow eye. Nine patients had been previously implanted with two monofocal lenses.

Patients were given a questionnaire asking them to describe their “feelings” and “thoughts” about such everyday activities as reading, watching television and using the computer, with or without glasses. They rated their vision quality on a 10-point scale, he said.

Nine patients graded reading with glasses as at least a 6; nine were able to watch television comfortably (graded a 10), and seven patients rated using a computer comfortably as an 8.

Dr. Tipperman cautioned that the study was small and “not scientific,” but is a start at examining patient expectations and outcomes.

“It’s a way of beginning to look at [combination implantations],” he said.