Patient selection to optimize near vision performance with a low-addition trifocal lens

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of ocular biometric variables on the visual performance achieved with a low addition trifocal intraocular lens (MIOL). METHODS: Retrospective observational study including 34 eyes. Preoperative measured variables included mean corneal power (Km), corneal regular astigmatism (RA), anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AXL), total irregular astigmatism (IA), spherical aberration (SA) and distance from pupil center to vertex normal (µ). Same variables were retrieved from the three month visit follow-up in addition to the actual lens position (ALP), the calculated effective addition (EA), the IOL centration from vertex normal (d), and the visual acuity defocus curve. The area under the defocus curve was computed along the total curve (TAUC) and ranges for far (FAUC), intermediate (IAUC) and near vision (NAUC). The sample was split in two groups of 17 eyes with TAUCs above and below the mean, and the differences among groups for different ocular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The group of eyes above TAUC of 2.03 logMAR*m-1 showed significantly lower Km and greater AXL and SA. Km was negatively correlated with TAUC and NAUC. NAUC was negatively correlated with IA and positively with d. A multiple lineal regression model including Km, d, and IA predicted NAUC (r-square = 34%). No significant differences between IA and SA were found between preoperative and postoperative values but µ significantly decreased after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The mean corneal power, irregular astigmatism, and centration from vertex normal should be considered for optimizing the near visual performance with this MIOL.