Ultraviolet effects on visual acuity in pseudophakia

Two experiments investigated visual acuity deficits in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light after implantation of an acrylic intraocular lens (IOL). In Experiment 1, six pseudophakes exhibited a statistically significant acuity decrement of 0.5 min arc or about one line on an eye chart illuminated by light having an UV component. In Experiment 2, the vernier acuity of six pseudophakic observers decreased by 0.6 min arc, but the vernier acuity of six phakic observers, with crystalline lenses intact, was not affected significantly by UV illumination. Both experiments provide evidence that UV light decreases pseudophakic visual acuity, perhaps by chromatic aberration. These results suggest that including UV filters in IOL's could permit pseudophakic observers to use their vision more effectively.