Near vision better with multifocal than monofocal IOLs, study finds

PARIS — Following cataract surgery, multifocal IOLs can provide significantly better near vision than monofocal IOLs, and distance vision is comparable between the two, according to a poster presented here.

A. Burak Bilgin, MD, and colleagues reported on results in 46 eyes implanted with either a multifocal or monofocal IOL after cataract surgery using phacoemulsification. The Advanced Medical Optics Array SA40N multifocal IOL was implanted in 23 eyes, and the AMO Sensar AR40N monofocal IOL was implanted in 23 eyes. There poster was presented here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

No significant difference in uncorrected distance vision was seen between the two groups after a mean follow-up of 4.3 months. Patients in the monofocal IOL group had a mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 0.73. Patients in the multifocal IOL group had a mean UCVA of 0.8.

All eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of at least 0.6. Both groups had similar amounts of surgically inducted astigmatism, averaging 0.56 D

Both near UCVA and near BCVA were significantly better postoperatively for patients in the multifocal group, the study authors said.

Nine eyes in the multifocal group and one eye in the monofocal group had postoperative glare. There were no decreases in BCVA in either group, and no eyes required capsulotomy, according to the poster.