Visual function and subjective quality of life in Chinese cataract patients after implantation with aspheric intraocular lenses

To evaluate and compare the objective and subjective visual function after implantation of 2 aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) in Chinese cataract patients.

Forty-one eyes of 28 patients with cataract were randomly assigned to receive either the MC X11 ASP IOL or the AcrySof IQ IOL. Three months postoperatively, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, wavefront aberrations, and subjective visual quality were measured. The degree of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was recorded at last follow-up.

Postoperative mean monocular BCVA was 0.05±0.13 logMAR in the MC X11 group and 0.05±0.08 logMAR in the IQ group. There was no significant difference in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, subjective visual quality, and degree of PCO between the 2 groups. For a 6-mm pupil diameter, the mean spherical aberration (Z40) was 0.075±0.076 µm in the MC X11 group and 0.056±0.111 µm in the IQ group. However, 45.5% and 57.9% of the eyes in the MC X11 and IQ groups had values >0.10 µm, respectively. The mean RMS values of the high-order aberrations were similar between the 2 groups except the higher fifth- and sixth-order aberrations, which were significantly higher in the MC X11 group.

Both IOLs provided similar and good visual outcomes. However, the data suggest that the amount of negative spherical aberration generated by current available aspheric IOLs might not be optimal for Chinese eyes.