Comparison of Visual Performance and Patient Satisfaction After Multifocal Intraocular Lens Implantation and During Multifocal Contact Lens Wear After Monofocal Intraocular Lens Implantation: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the visual performance and patient satisfaction in multifocal intraocular lens (IOL)-implanted eyes and multifocal contact lens (CL)-wearing eyes undergoing monofocal IOL implantation.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed visual acuity at all distances (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, and 5 m), contrast sensitivity function, patient satisfaction score, and the rate of spectacle independence in the multifocal IOL and multifocal CL groups.

Results: Binocular visual acuity at 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, and 5 m was 0.05 ± 0.11, - 0.02 ± 0.09, - 0.02 ± 0.09, - 0.02 ± 0.09, and - 0.04 ± 0.07, respectively, in the multifocal IOL group and 0.25 ± 0.13, 0.04 ± 0.10, 0.01 ± 0.09, - 0.01 ± 0.07, and 0.00 ± 0.08, respectively, in the multifocal CL group. We found significant differences in visual acuity at all distances. The area under the log contrast sensitivity function was 1.32 ± 0.14 and 1.33 ± 0.16 in the multifocal IOL and CL groups, respectively (p = 0.444). The patient satisfaction score for overall vision was 80.2 ± 20.6 and 82.9 ± 10.5 (p = 0.889), and the rate of spectacle independence was 23.4% and 41.7% in the multifocal IOL and CL groups, respectively (p = 0.277).

Conclusions: According to our experience, both multifocal IOLs and CLs provided good near-to-distance binocular vision and subsequent high patient satisfaction in daily activities with acceptable contrast sensitivity, suggesting their viability for presbyopic correction in elderly subjects.

Keywords: Cataract surgery; Contrast sensitivity; Multifocal contact lens; Multifocal intraocular lens; Patient satisfaction; Presbyopia; Visual acuity.