CONTRAST AND GLARE SENSITIVITY IN PATIENT S WITH MULTIFOCAL IOLS - RESULTS 2 YEARS AFTER LENS IMPLANTATION

Objective To test the longterm findings for glare and contrast sensiti vity in patients with diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses. Study Design Measurements were done using the Mesoptometer II under standar dized contrast level and brightness illumination settings (0.032 and 0 .1 cd/m2 brightness illumination for testing contrast sensitivity (0.1 cd/m2 brightness illumination and glare of 0.35 Lux for glare testing ). Furthermore the patients were tested on their ability to fullfill t he requirements of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) for mesop ic vision to obtain a driver's license. Patients 40 patients with mult ifocal intraocular lenses (MIOL), aged 59.3 +/- 9.1 years, were examin ed 2 years after lens implantation (3M 815 LE and 3M 825 XE) and compa red to results of a control-group of 40 patients with monofocal IOL's. Results There were no significant differences testing contrast sensit ivity. Patients with monofocals, however, reached significant better r esults than patients with multifocals (p < 0.01) when tested for visua l acuity under low contrast conditions and glare sensitivity. Conclusi ons Seventy percent of MIOL-patients and 56% of Monofocal-patients fai led to meet the minimum requirements for driver's license. Both patien t groups showed decreased values for glare and contrast sensitivity wh en tested 2 years after cataract surgery.