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Gender plays a role in appreciation and tolerance of multifocal IOLs
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MILAN, Italy — An analysis of gender differences continues to show significance in the appreciation and tolerance of multifocal IOLs, according to one surgeon speaking at the annual joint meeting of OSN and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology.
Since 1999, Magda Rau, MD, has been performing studies on satisfaction after the implantation of multifocal lenses, ranging from the old MF4 (Carl Zeiss Meditec) and Array (Abbott Medical Optics) to the various models of the Tecnis (AMO) and ReZoom (AMO) to, more recently, the asymmetric Lentis Mplus (Topcon). Mix-and-match combinations were also evaluated, and reasons for IOL explantation were examined.
“All our studies showed a higher satisfaction amongst female patients with lenses that provide a good near and intermediate vision like the Tecnis and MF4. Distance-dominant lenses like ReZoom and AMO Array scored a higher satisfaction amongst men,” Dr. Rau said.
The most recent outcomes, after the implantation of the Lentis Mplus, showed high satisfaction among men and working women. The mix-and-match approach, if well planned, seemed equally successful for both genders.
“The basic concept is that women like high performance in near and intermediate tasks, while distance vision is more important for men,” Dr. Rau said.
The most common complaints among male patients were halos and glare, while women more often complained of near vision problems.
Generally speaking, women seem to adapt better and faster to multifocality. Dr. Rau implanted a total of 1,489 multifocal lenses and explanted nine lenses, eight of which were in men.
“The risk of being confronted with male dissatisfaction after [multifocal] IOL implantation is much higher. Men need to be counseled much more carefully than women,” she said.
Disclosure: Dr. Rau has no relevant financial disclosures.