AMO ARRAY MULTIFOCAL VERSUS MONOFOCAL INTRAOCULAR LENSES - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Purpose: To assess prospectively the visual outcomes of multifocal and monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in selected patients wi th a minimum follow-up of 18 months. Setting: Department of Ophthalmol ogy, National Health Service (INSALUD), Puerta de Hierro University Cl inic, Madrid, Spain. Methods: This prospective study comprised two gro ups of 50 eyes each: one with AMO Array multifocal IOLs and the other with monofocal IOLs. Main outcome measures were Snellen and Began 96% distance visual acuities; Jaeger and decimal near acuities; Regan cont rast sensitivity test at 96, 50, 25, and 11%; brightness acuity test ( BAT) on distance acuity at Regan 96%; depth of focus measured with the Began 96% distance test; defocusing from +3s to -4s; subjective evalu ation of optical side effects. Results: The differences between groups in mean distance vision and BAT results were not statistically signif icant. Contrast sensitivity results at 96 and 50% were similar, but th ere were significant differences of 0.94 and 1.14 lines on the 25 and 11% charts, respectively (P <.01). Near vision without addition in the multifocal group was significantly better and depth of focus signific antly wider than in the monofocal group (P <.001). Conclusion: With ap propriate patient selection, the AMO Array IOL provided distance acuit y and contrast sensitivity similar to that of the monofocal IOLs and e xcellent intermediate vision. Near vision, without spectacles, with th e multifocal lens was functionally acceptable although short of refrac tive power for best acuity results.