Visual satisfaction and spectacle independence with monofocal intraocular lens with enhanced intermediate vision and trifocal intraocular lenses in the prepresbyopic age group patients with cataracts

AIM: This aims to study visual satisfaction and spectacle independence in prepresbyopic age patients with cataracts after the implantation of either monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) with enhanced intermediate vision or trifocal IOL. SETTING: Private practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational case study was conducted on patients in the prepresbyopic age group with cataracts. Patients were allocated to one of the two groups. Thirteen patients (26 eyes) received monofocal IOL with enhanced intermediate vision (intermediate vision group), and 12 patients (24 eyes) received diffractive multifocal IOLs (trifocal group). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity, Uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) values, defocus curves, and contrast sensitivities (CS) of the two groups were compared 3 months’ postsurgery. Their spectacle independence and visual satisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: The study patients were aged 35–45 years and comprised 14 males and 11 females. No significant difference was observed in UDVA (intermediate vision group: 0.02 ± 0.01, trifocal group: 0.02 ± 0.01; P = 0.22) and UIVA (intermediate vision group: 0.20 ± 0.10, trifocal group: 0.19 ± 0.10; P = 0.12). However, a statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of UNVA (intermediate vision group: 0.32 ± 0.10, trifocal group: 0.80 ± 0.10; P = 0.01). The mean CS in monofocal IOL with enhanced intermediate vision and trifocal groups were 1.577 ± 0.3 and 1.550 ± 0.2, respectively (P = 0.40). None of the patients experienced photic phenomena. In total, 10 of 13 patients in the monofocal IOL with enhanced intermediate vision group required spectacle correction for near visual acuity in the range of +1.00 to +2.00 D. CONCLUSION: This study found that there was no significant difference in distance and intermediate vision between the two groups. However, the trifocal group had better uncorrected near vision compared to the monofocal group that had enhanced intermediate vision. The conclusion is that using trifocal IOLs for both eyes provided complete independence from wearing glasses. In addition, no visual disturbances were observed after implanting the new-generation trifocal IOLs.