Long-term reading performance in patients with bilateral dual-optic accommodating intraocular lenses

To evaluate reading ability in patients who had cataract surgery with binocular implantation of a dual-optic accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) over a 2-year period.

Department of Ophthalmology, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Salucoop EPS-ServiOftalmos, Bogota, Colombia.

Prospective case series.

This study assessed reading ability 1 year and 2 years after bilateral implantation of the Synchrony IOL accommodating IOL using standardized Spanish reading charts based on MNRead charts. Testing was performed with distance correction and without near addition (40 cm). Patients read aloud sentences with a print size ranging from 1.0 to 0.0 logMAR. Responses were audio taped and analyzed offline to obtain reading speed (words per minute [wpm]), reading acuity (logMAR), and critical print size (logMAR).

Mixed-model analysis of variance with time (1 year and 2 years) and print size (1.0 to 0.0 logMAR; 11 levels) as factors showed statistically significantly better reading speed at 2 years, with significant differences at print sizes from 0.3 to 0.1 logMAR (P<.01). Mean reading acuity (0.07 logMAR versus 0.15 logMAR) (P<.01, paired t test) and critical print size (0.28 logMAR versus 0.48 logMAR) were also statistically significantly better at 2 years than at 1 year (both P<.01, paired t test). There was no significant difference in reading speed at 0.4 logMAR (newspaper print or 20/50 Snellen equivalent) between 1 year (180.5 wpm) and 2 years (184.2 wpm) (P = .90, paired t test).

The dual-optic accommodating IOL provided stable or improved reading ability over a 2-year period.