Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lens Based on Aberration-Neutral Technique

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Extended depth-of-focus (EDoF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) aim to provide functional vision at multiple distances.
• Maintaining optical stability under misalignment is critical for successful cataract surgery outcomes.
• Aberration-neutral designs offer a promising approach to enhance IOL performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a novel full-aperture, aberration-neutral EDoF IOL.
• To evaluate the optical stability of this EDoF IOL under decentration and tilt.
• To compare its performance against existing commercial IOLs using a schematic eye model.

Main Methods:

• Designed and optimized a new EDoF IOL using the aberration-neutral technique within the Navarro-Escudero model eye.
• Simulated optical performance (MTF-TO, spot diagrams, ray tracing) under aligned, decentered (0.5 mm), and tilted (5°) conditions.
• Compared simulation results with commercial monofocal (IOL A) and EDoF IOLs (IOL B, IOL C) using the Liou-Brennan model eye.

Main Results:

• The new EDoF IOL demonstrated a continuous MTF-TO response from distance to near, confirming EDoF functionality.
• It provided a wider depth of focus (1.2 D) and higher additional vision MTF (0.30) compared to commercial EDoF IOLs.
• The IOL maintained high distance MTF (0.35) under 0.5 mm decentration and superior additional vision MTF (0.29) under 5° tilt, outperforming competitors.

Conclusions:

• The designed aberration-neutral EDoF IOL maintains stable optical quality and preserves distance and near vision under misalignment.
• Its robust performance under decentration and tilt suggests suitability for patients at risk of postoperative IOL misalignment.
• The study provides a strong theoretical foundation for the clinical application of this advanced EDoF IOL design.