Five-year postoperative outcomes of apodized diffractive multifocal intraocular lens implantation

To assess the long-term postoperative visual performance of an apodized diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL).

Twenty-one patients (42 eyes) underwent cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of an apodized diffractive multifocal IOL. The monocular uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities, uncorrected, distance-corrected and corrected near visual acuities, and manifest refractive spherical equivalent were measured 1 and 5 years postoperatively. The contrast sensitivity, incidence of glare or halos, and rate of neodynium:YAG (Nd:YAG) posterior capsulotomy were evaluated 5 years postoperatively.

No significant differences were found between the distance and near visual acuities at 1 and 5 years postoperatively. The contrast sensitivity was within the normal range for all spatial frequencies. No patients reported severe glare or halos. Six (14.3 %) eyes required Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy.

The apodized diffractive multifocal IOL provides good, stable distance and near visual acuity levels over a 5-year follow-up period.