Extended Depth of Focus IOL Offers Good Intermediate, Far Visual Acuities

A monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) with extended depth of focus (EDOF) can provide good visual acuity at intermediate distances without affecting far-distance vision, according to research published in Clinical Ophthalmology. The lens can also decrease the power of the reading add needed after phacoemulsification.

Researchers conducted a prospective, interventional, noncomparative study of patients who underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of the IOL. They evaluated postoperative visual performance and total ocular aberration 3 months after cataract surgery.

A total of 34 eyes of 17 patients (64.7% men and 35.3% women; mean age,  56±6.96 years) were included in the study. The researchers reported a preoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity of 0.26±0.12 decimal notation (DN), mean axial length of 22.73±1.8 mm, mean K1 reading of 43.88±1.07 diopters (D), mean K2 reading of 43.67±1.02 D, and mean IOL power of 22.35±1.75 D.

At postoperative month 3, the researchers report a mean spherical equivalent of -0.32±0.62 D, mean distance-corrected near visual acuity of 0.33±0.15 DN for monocular vision and 0.42±0.17 DN for binocular vision. They report a mean near distance with maximum visual acuity of 79.47±7.70 cm for monocular vision and 74.76±7.90 cm for binocular vision, a mean minimum reading addition of 1.6±0.47 D, and mean spherical aberration of 0.13±0.09 µm. 

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure the maximum near point of functional vision, which was found to be 79 and 75 cm monocular and binocular, respectively,” the researchers report. “This helps the patients to see clearly at intermediate distances without affecting the far distances.”

Limitations of the study included the small sample size, short follow-up period, and lack of assessment of defocus curve and contrast sensitivity.