Assessment of whether visual outcomes with diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses vary with patient age.

Purpose: To assess whether corrected visual acuity after implantation of diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) varies with patient age.
Setting: Tokyo Dental College, Suidobashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Eyes receiving a diffractive multifocal IOL after cataract extraction were divided into 5 age decades: 30s (30 to 39 years), 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Corrected distance (CDVA), distance-corrected near (DCNVA), and corrected near (CNVA) visual acuities 1 month postoperatively were compared between the age decades. Contrast sensitivity was evaluated at 3 months. Eyes with a monofocal IOL served as controls.
Results: The mean CDVA was significantly better in the 30s and 50s than in the 60s and 70s (P<.033). There was significant decline in DCNVA in the 60s and 70s compared with the 30s (P<.03). The CNVA was better in the 30s than in the 50s, 60s, and 70s (P<.003), better in the 40s than in the 60s and 70s (P<.008), and better in the 50s than in the 70s (P=.001). No change in CDVA was found with the monofocal IOL. Contrast sensitivity was significantly higher in the 30s than in the 60s and 70s at 6 cycles per degree (cpd) (P<.025) and in the 50s to 70s at 18 cpd (P<.027).
Conclusion: Corrected visual acuities and contrast sensitivity were worse in older patients than in younger patients. Visual acuities with the monofocal IOL were not associated with patient age.
Financial Disclosure: Dr. Bissen-Miyajima has received lecture fees from Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. Neither of the other authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
(Copyright © 2013 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)