Factors affecting prediction error after cataract surgery with implantation of various multifocal IOLs in patients with previous refractive laser surgery

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of implantation of various multifocal intraocular lenses (mIOLs) and the prediction accuracy of two intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas for eyes that underwent previous corneal refractive surgery. METHODS: Four types of mIOLs [TECNIS Symfony (Group I), AcrySof IQ PanOptix (Group II), LENTIS Mplus (Group III), and TECNIS ZLB00 (Group IV)] were used and the IOL power was calculated with the two no-history methods, Shammas-PL and Barrett True-K. Visual acuity and refractive outcomes including manifest refraction, prediction error (PE), absolute error (AE), and median absolute error (MedAE) were evaluated at three months after the cataract surgery. RESULTS: For all groups the Barrett True-K formula produced a narrower range of PEs and lower MedAE than Shammas-PL. Eyes of lower predictive accuracy (group B, AE >0.5D) showed weak uncorrected distance visual acuity resulting from myopic refractive error and target refraction when compared to that of higher predictive accuracy (group A, AE ≤0.5 D). CONCLUSIONS: Targeting emmetropia using the Barrett True-K, which considers both anterior and posterior corneal curvature is recommended in patients undergoing mIOL implantation with prior corneal refractive surgery. Additionally, history of prior large amount of laser ablation seems to be an important factor related to low predictive accuracy.