VISUAL PROPERTIES OF THE FOLDABLE ARRAY MULTIFOCAL INTRAOCULAR-LENS

Purpose: To evaluate visual acuity, depth of focus, contrast sensitivi ty, and glare disability in eyes with an Array SSM 26-NB three-piece, five-zone multifocal intraocular lens (IOL). Setting: University Eye C linic, Vienna, Austria. Method: Fourteen eyes with an AMO Array IOL we re evaluated for uncorrected and best corrected distance and near visu al acuity. The reading distance produced by the near focus of the lens was varied with convex glasses of less power. Reading at distance foc us was evaluated by adding +3.50 diopters (D) to the distance correcti on. Depth of focus was measured from -3.00 to +6.00 D. Contrast sensit ivity and glare disability were also measured using the Brightness Acu ity Tester with stationary sinusoidal gratings at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 11.4, and 22.8 cycles/degree. Results: Mean uncorrected distance acuity (Sne llen) was 0.79 +/- 0.17 (SD), which increased to 0.94 +/- 0.14 with be st correction. Near acuity was J2.75 +/- 1.35 and J2.59 +/- 1.10, resp ectively. When near focus was tested for reading distance, a mean of 0.54 +/- 0.02 D was accepted for improvement of near vision of J1.71 /- 0.94. Near acuity with a distance focus addition of +3.50 D was J1. 08 +/- 0.28. Contrast sensitivity and glare disability were lower than in 13 eyes with a monofocal poly(methyl methacrylate) IOL and 16 norm al phakic eyes. Conclusions: Eyes with the Array IOL had full distance function. Reading performance could be improved with a near focus of more than +3.50 D. Full near vision could be achieved with the distanc e focus and conventional reading glasses. Depth of focus was sufficien t but visual acuity was limited at intermediate and near distance. Alt hough contrast sensitivity was relatively low, it was not beyond the r eference range.