Comparing Visual Acuity, Low Contrast Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity After Trifocal Toric and Extended Depth of Focus Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare visual acuity at various distances (far, intermediate and near), low contrast acuity and contrast sensitivity after trifocal toric and extended depth of focus (EDOF) toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a non-interventional two-arm comparative study of visual outcomes after uncomplicated bilateral cataract or refractive lens exchange surgery with IOL implantation between 6 months and 5 years before a single diagnostic examination visit. There was no masking and no control group. Subjects had to have uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 20/40 (0.3 logMAR) or better measured at the time of their study visit. Clinical evaluations included the manifest refraction, visual acuity (VA) at distance, intermediate (60 cm) and near (40 cm), low contrast (10%) VA and contrast sensitivity. RESULTS: A total of 50 bilaterally implanted patients (25 trifocal, 25 EDOF) were examined; the two groups had similar characteristics, including corneal astigmatism. Postoperative refractive outcomes were also similar. There were no statistically significant differences in distance or intermediate VA between groups, but the trifocal group had significantly better near VA both uncorrected (p = 0.009) and distance-corrected (p = 0.014). There were no statistically significant differences in the low contrast acuity measures between IOLs at either distance or 40 cm, with or without glare. Contrast sensitivity in mesopic and photopic conditions was similar. CONCLUSION: The trifocal and EDOF toric IOLs performed similarly for all measures except near VA, where the trifocal toric provided significantly better acuity. For subjects interested in reducing spectacle independence at near, this may be an important consideration.