First results with a new intraocular lens design for the individual correction of spherical aberration

To assess the feasibility of individual compensation of corneal spherical aberration with a custom intraocular lens (IOL).

Department of Ophthalmology, Rudolf Virchow Klinikum Glauchau, Glauchau, Germany.

Prospective case series.

Cataract patients were randomized to receive an individual aberration-correcting IOL (Invidua-aA; Group A) or a standard aspheric aberration-free IOL of otherwise identical design (Aspira-aA; Group B). In Group A, the IOL was designed according to preoperative calculation of the corneal spherical aberration Z(4,0). The aim was to achieve an overall postoperative ocular spherical aberration close to zero. Four weeks and 3 months postoperatively, the refraction, visual acuity (far, intermediate, and near distance), photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivities (with and without glare), defocus curve, corneal and ocular spherical aberration, and pupil size were measured.

Group A, 57 eyes of 42 patients and Group B, 29 eyes of 27 patients. Preoperatively, there was no difference in corneal spherical aberration between groups (P > .05). Three months postoperatively, residual ocular spherical aberration Z(4,0) was significantly lower in Group A (P < .001). Photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivities (with and without glare) were significantly higher in Group A at most spatial frequencies. Monocular defocus curve and distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.

Implantation of a custom monofocal aspheric IOL effectively reduced overall ocular spherical aberration. Clinical outcomes indicate that IOLs with an individual spherical aberration correction improve functional vision, especially contrast sensitivity, compared with standard aberration-free IOLs.