Pitfalls of Using NIR-Based Clinical Instruments to Test Eyes Implanted with Diffractive Intraocular Lenses
Fidel Vega1, Miguel Faria-Ribeiro2, Jesús Armengol1
1Departament d'Òptica i Optometria, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelonatech, ViolinistaVellsolà 37, 08222 Terrassa, Spain.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 13, 2023
Summary
Near-infrared light can provide misleading results for assessing visual quality after diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (DMIOL) surgery. Wavelength-dependent performance differences in DMIOLs mean standard assessments may not accurately reflect post-operative vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optical Engineering
- Biomedical Optics
Background:
- Diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (DMIOLs) are used to correct vision after cataract surgery.
- Near-infrared (NIR) light is often used in clinical instruments for eye assessment.
- The wavelength dependency of diffractive optics raises concerns about the accuracy of NIR-based assessments for DMIOLs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of wavelength dependency on the performance of diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (DMIOLs).
- To evaluate the reliability of near-infrared (NIR) based clinical instruments for post-operative visual quality assessment in eyes with DMIOLs.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of three commercial DMIOL designs.
- Numerical simulations to compare lens performance at design wavelengths (visible spectrum) versus NIR wavelengths (780-850 nm).
- On-bench experimental validation of simulation results.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in DMIOL physical performance were observed between visible and NIR wavelengths.
- Wavelength dependency affects the distribution of light energy among foci, not just the best focus shift.
- These differences are substantial and impact all DMIOL foci, including the primary far focus.
Conclusions:
- Near-infrared based assessments may be unreliable for evaluating visual quality in patients with DMIOLs.
- Standard chromatic aberration compensation is insufficient due to wavelength-dependent energy distribution in DMIOLs.
- Accurate assessment of DMIOLs requires considering their specific wavelength-dependent performance characteristics.
