IOL effective in reducing spherical aberration, no improvement in CFS

Paris—The Tecnis Z9000 IOL (AMO) is effective in reducing spherical aberration following cataract surgery, but no improvement in contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was found related to this spherical aberration reduction, according to Gonzalo Munoz, MD, of Alicante, Spain.

In a prospective study, 30 patients were divided into two groups. In one group, patients received a Tecnis lens in one eye and an AR-40 IOL (AMO) in the contralateral eye. The second group received the Tecnis lens in one eye and a Stabibag IOL (IOLTech) in the other. Postoperative visual acuity, residual refraction, aberrations, and CFS were measured.

Dr. Munoz reported that ocular spherical aberration was statistically significantly lower in the eyes implanted with the Tecnis lens in comparison with the other two IOLs. However, no statistical significant difference was found between the IOLs in terms of visual acuity, residual refraction, or CSF (both in photopic and mesopic conditions).

"One possible explanation is that the systems we are using clinically to measure CSF could not be sensitive enough to detect the small changes produced by this kind of IOL," Dr. Munoz concluded.