Shedding Light on Halos: Quantifying the Impact of the Diffractive Profile in Multifocal Intraocular Lenses
Anabel Martínez-Espert1, Salvador García-Delpech2, Juan A Monsoriu3
1Departamento de Óptica, Optometría y CC de la Visión, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
Translational Vision Science & Technology
|January 13, 2026
Summary
The diffractive profile of multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) significantly impacts halo formation. Understanding these designs helps surgeons and designers minimize visual disturbances for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optical Engineering
- Visual Optics
Background:
- Halos are a common complaint following multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) implantation.
- The exact causes of halos are not fully understood, with limited consensus on the role of diffractive profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically model and quantify the isolated effect of diffractive profiles on halo formation in MIOLs.
- To investigate how different diffractive designs influence visual aberrations.
Main Methods:
- A simplified eye model was created in Zemax OpticStudio.
- Simulations compared sinusoidal and apodized kinoform diffractive designs under varying pupil diameters and illumination conditions.
- Halo size was quantified using the half-intensity diameter (HD) metric.
Main Results:
- The apodized kinoform MIOL showed reduced halo size with increasing pupil diameter at the far focus.
- The sinusoidal MIOL performed best at an intermediate focus, with significantly larger halos at smaller pupil diameters.
- Monochromatic and polychromatic illumination yielded similar results for halo formation.
Conclusions:
- Differences in halo formation are primarily due to how diffractive profiles distribute energy across diffraction orders.
- The diffractive profile of MIOLs is a critical factor influencing halo perception.
- This modeling approach aids in understanding patient complaints and optimizing future lens designs.
