Comparison of the optical and visual quality of poly(methyl methacrylate) and silicone intraocular lenses

We evaluated experimentally the optical quality of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (Storz 68UV, AMO PC58) and silicone (AMO SI19, Adatomed 90D) intraocular lenses (IOLs) and compared the results with our clinical data. We measured surface and image quality using the Zygo laser interferometer and modulation transfer function (MTF) using the Ealing EROS MTF analyzer. Contrast acuity was tested clinically with glare and without glare (Regan charts); AMO PC58, n = 18; AMO SI19, n = 7; Adatomed 90D, n = 18). Modulation transfer function and image quality were slightly better with PMMA IOLs but the reduction of MTF with silicone lenses was within the 1/8 diopter defocus range. Surface quality of silicone IOLs was superior to that of PMMA IOLs. Contrast acuity measured clinically was also slightly better with PMMA IOLs at low contrast and with glare but differences were not significant. Our results suggest that optical and visual quality of silicone IOLs is slightly lower than with PMMA IOLs. Experimental and clinical results correlated closely. However, the small differences observed are unlikely to be significant clinically.