Visual and refractive status at different focal distances after implantation of the ReSTOR multifocal intraocular lens

Purpose

To evaluate the visual acuity and determine the refraction in emmetropic pseudophakic eyes at different focal distances after implantation of the AcrySof SA 60D3 ReSTOR multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon Laboratories).

Setting

Private clinical practice.

Methods

Thirty-seven eyes of 20 patients received the ReSTOR IOL. Visual acuity was measured at several distances, and best distance corrected, best intermediate corrected (60 cm), and best near corrected (33 cm) visual acuities were determined 3 months after surgery. Subjective outcomes were assessed by a questionnaire.

Results

Postoperatively, 36 of 37 eyes (97.3%) were within ±1.00 diopter (D) of the manifest refraction spherical equivalent and cylinder. Monocularly, the mean best distance corrected, best distance corrected intermediate, and best distance corrected near visual acuities were 20/20, 20/46, and 20/23, respectively. The best distance corrected acuities at 40, 50, 60, and 70 cm were significantly worse than the best distance corrected and best distance corrected near acuities (P<.05). On the questionnaire, all patients noted intermediate blur, but 75% had little or no difficulty seeing and were bothered by the blur occasionally or never. The mean additional add to best distance correction for best intermediate corrected visual acuity was +1.20 diopters (D) ± 0.27 D or −1.68 ± 0.24 D and for best near corrected visual acuity, −0.26 ± 0.24 D.

Conclusions

Implantation of the ReSTOR IOL offered excellent visual acuity at distance and near distance and functional visual acuity in the intermediate range. For patients who need excellent vision at intermediate range, leaving 1 eye with distance myopia or hyperopia to compensate for intermediate vision may provide consistent good binocular vision over the full range in cases of bilateral implantation.