Novel trifocal IOL provides increased depth of focus, contrast sensitivity

Enhanced light distribution leads to better modulation transfer function values in the transition between near to intermediate and intermediate to distance focus areas.

Issue: April 2015

A newly developed trifocal lens provides enhanced depth of focus by maximum light transmission to the retina and balanced light distribution, according to one surgeon.

“It’s a new lens in the family of trifocals, designed to provide superior modulation transfer function values in the transition between near to intermediate and intermediate to distance focus areas. This should result in seamless continuous vision and larger depth of focus compared to previous lens models,” Pavel Stodulka, MD, PhD, an OSN Europe Edition Board Member, told Ocular Surgery News.

The Acriva RevIOL Tri-ED (VSY Biotechnology) is “a welcome addition to the family of trifocal lenses and should enrich the market,” Stodulka said.

Trifocal lenses have taken a significant step forward from bifocal technology by overcoming the limitations related to intermediate vision. In the era of digital devices, this was a necessary advancement.

“Now we can provide patients with good intermediate vision for computers, car dashboards and a lot of daily tasks. Patients implanted with trifocals adapt much faster compared to previous bifocals. I am totally convinced this is the way to go. I stopped implanting bifocal lenses a few years ago and only implant the trifocal lenses now,” Stodulka said.

Promising results

Stodulka has personally implanted several thousand FineVision trifocal IOLs and waited for new developments in trifocal technology.

“I had positive experiences with VSY’s products and welcomed the opportunity to try the newly developed Acriva RevIOL Tri-ED,” Stodulka said.

He has implanted about 50 of these lenses and is assessing the results, which look promising. Mean uncorrected near visual acuity is J1.3, which allows people to read small print. More than 90% of his patients have gained spectacle independence over the first 6 months of follow-up.

Contrast sensitivity was tested by the Functional Vision Analyzer (Stereo Optical).

“The values were within the physiological range in all those spatial frequencies, which is also very good news,” Stodulka said.

Light distribution, glare and halos

The effects of the enhanced light distribution of the trifocal lens, with increased modulation transfer function at intermediate and in the transitions, need to be assessed in clinical practice and through the subjective response of patients, according to Stodulka.

“We need to verify whether patients can truly benefit from this feature. We are currently asking them to report on the comfort of vision with different tasks, and they seem to be happy. We are still unable to compare the subjective results with those of other trifocal lenses, but our patients implanted with Acriva RevIOL Tri-ED see very well and perform comfortably their daily tasks, including intermediate vision tasks,” he said.

Patients have subjectively reported minimal glare and halos.

“Zero glare and halos have not yet been achieved by multifocal technology. However, since they use the light more efficiently, and the current lens technology is more precise and controlled, glare and halos are less and less disturbing than what we had with multifocal lenses a few years ago,” Stodulka said. – by Michela Cimberle

For more information:
Pavel Stodulka, MD, PhD, is head eye surgeon at the Gemini Eye Clinics in Prague and Zlin, Czech Republic. He can be reached at stodulka@lasik.cz.

Disclosure: Stodulka reports he is a consultant for Bausch + Lomb.