Visual outcome with the array multifocal intraocular lens in patients with concurrent eye disease

To evaluate whether the distance visual outcome with the Array(R) multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) is comparable to that of a monofocal IOL in eyes with concurrent disease and to assess whether these eyes benefit from the IOL's multifocality.

Department of Ophthalmology, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, United Kingdom.

This prospective study comprised 133 eyes of 111 patients with cataract and concurrent disease such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Eighty-one eyes (70 patients) received an Array multifocal IOL after phacoemulsification. A control group of 52 eyes (41 patients) received a monofocal IOL of similar design (AMO SI-40NB). Visual outcomes in terms of uncorrected and best corrected distance and near acuities were evaluated.

In both the multifocal and the monofocal IOL groups, the number of eyes achieving a best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 and N8 or better (55 and 37 eyes, respectively) was comparable (P > or =.999; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.152 to 0.172). There was a borderline statistically significant difference in the number of eyes achieving an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better and N8 or better in the multifocal IOL (11 eyes) and monofocal (2 eyes) groups (P =.047, 95% CI -0.001 to 0.196). A significantly higher number of eyes in the multifocal group (40 eyes) than in the monofocal IOL group (4 eyes) achieved a distance-corrected acuity of 6/12 and N8 or better (P =.0001; 95% CI 0.274 to 0.539).

The Array multifocal IOL produced distance visual outcomes comparable to those of the AMO SI-40NB monofocal IOL in patients with concurrent eye disease. A significant proportion of these patients benefited from the IOL's multifocality. Management of associated eye disease was not compromised by the nature of the IOL.