Contrast sensitivity evaluation of aspheric and spherical intraocular lenses 2 years after implantation

To compare the quality of vision with aspheric and spherical intraocular lenses (IOLs) in pseudophakic patients after long-term follow-up.

Two hundred eyes of 100 patients with bilateral cataracts were randomly assigned to receive spherical (Acrysof SN60AT [Alcon Laboratories Inc] or Sensar AR40e [Advanced Medical Optics Inc]) or aspheric IOLs (Acrysof SN60WF [Alcon] or Tecnis Z9000 [Advanced Medical Optics]). Ophthalmologic examination, including best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), pupil size, ocular dominance, contrast sensitivity under mesopic and photopic conditions, and wavefront analysis, was performed 2 months and 1 and 2 years after surgery.

No statistically significant differences among the four groups in terms of age, pupil diameter, postoperative BSCVA, comeal spherical aberration, and posterior capsular opacification were noted. At all followup examinations, contrast sensitivity results showed no significant differences between the two aspheric IOLs at all spatial frequencies. Under photopic conditions, significant differences (P<.05) between spherical and aspheric IOLs were detected for spatial frequencies of 12 and 18 cycles per degree (cpd) at 2 months and 2 years and 12 cpd at 1 year. Under mesopic conditions, significant differences (P<.05) were detected between spherical and aspheric IOLs for all spatial frequencies at 2 months; all spatial frequencies except 18 cpd at 1 year; and spatial frequencies of 3, 12, and 18 cpd at 2 years. In addition, aspheric IOLs had statistical reductions in total spherical aberration at all follow-up examinations (P<.01).

This study confirms that implantation of a modified aspheric IOL improves functional visual performance at 2 years postoperative.