THE INFLUENCE OF THE DIFFRACTIVE MULTIFOC AL INTRAOCULAR-LENS ON CONTRAST SENSITIVITY, GLARE SENSITIVITY AND COLOR-VISION

Background Due to theoretical considerations an increase in the depth of field of the diffractive IOL may be combined with a reduction in co ntrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity and colour perception. Patients and Methods A comparative analysis of both eyes was performed in ten p atients with a diffractive multifocal IOL (3M 815LE) in one eye and a monofocal IOL in the other eye. Contrast sensitivity was examined by c omputer generated sine wave gratings of 6 different spatial frequencie s; visual acuity with glare and glare sensitivity were determined unde r 7 different levels of field luminance; colour vision was examined us ing the Farnsworth-Munsell-100-Hue-test. Results Contrast sensitivity of the diffractive lens was reduced for intermediate spatial frequenci es, but not for low and high frequencies. Visual acuity with glare was only reduced at maximum field luminance; no differences were found in glare sensitivity and colour perception between monofocal and multifo cal. Conclusion Altogether, the diffractive lens did not show a dramat ic reduction in the examined visual functions compared with the monofo cal IOL.