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Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity decrease with age in eyes with diffractive multifocal IOL
Older patients who received a diffractive multifocal IOL had worse corrected distance visual acuity, corrected near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity than younger patients, according to a study.
The retrospective study included 365 eyes of 237 patients with a mean age of 59.5 years who received a Tecnis ZM900 or Tecnis ZMA00 diffractive multifocal IOL (Abbott Medical Optics).
A control group comprised 121 eyes of 85 patients with a mean age of 55.1 years who received an AcrySof SN60WF monofocal IOL (Alcon).
Patients were divided by age based on decades: 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s/80s.
With the multifocal IOL, mean corrected distance visual acuity was significantly better in patients in their 30s and 50s than in their 60s or 70s (P < .033). Corrected near visual acuity was markedly better in patients in their 30s than in their 50s, 60s or 70s (P < .003), better in their 40s than in their 60s and 70s (P < .008) and better in their 50s than in their 70s (P = .001).
Patients in their 30s had significantly better contrast sensitivity at 6 cycles per degree than those in their 60s and 70s (P < .025) and at 18 cycles per degree than those in their 50s, 60s and 70s (P < .027)
The monofocal IOL was associated with no changes in visual acuity or contrast sensitivity.
Despite these findings, the study authors said, “Distance and near visual acuities in every age group were excellent, and our results should not be interpreted as a limitation for implanting multifocal IOLs in elderly patients.”
Disclosure: Bissen-Miyajima has received lecture fees from Abbott Medical Optics. The remaining authors have no relevant financial disclosures.