Spherical aberration, visual performance and pseudoaccommodation of eyes implanted with different aspheric intraocular lens

PURPOSE: To compare spherical aberration, visual performance and pseudoaccommodation in pseudophakic eyes implanted with aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) of Tecnis Z9001 with negative spherical aberration (AMO Inc.), aspheric aberration-free IOLs of Akreos AO (Bausch & Lomb Inc.) and spherical IOLs of KS-1 (Cannon Staar Inc.). METHODS: A total of 196 patients presenting for cataract surgery were randomly assigned to receive one of three types of IOLs in one eye. Spherical aberration, best-corrected far visual acuity (BCFVA), distance corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity and pseudoaccommodation were measured and compared 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: At 3 months postoperatively, the mean spherical aberration Z(4,0) for 5 mm pupil size in eyes with Tecnis Z9001 IOLs, Akreos AO IOLs, and KS-1 IOLs were 0.022 +/- 0.071 microm, 0.141 +/- 0.070 microm and 0.210 +/- 0.108 microm, respectively (P < 0.001), and significant difference was also found in two aspheric IOLs (P < 0.001). Compared with spherical KS-1 IOLs, Tecnis Z9001 IOLs significantly improved the contrast sensitivity at 4.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees visual angle and glare sensitivity at 4.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees, 2.0 degrees, 1.6 degrees visual angle, Akreos AO IOLs significantly improved contrast sensitivity at 2.5 degrees and glare sensitivity at 4.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees, 2.0 degrees, but no difference statistically significance were found between two aspheric IOLs at any visual angle. In addition, there was no significant difference among three IOLs regarding BCFVA, DCNVA and pseudoaccommodation. CONCLUSIONS: All the studied IOLs can provide good visual acuity. Compared with spherical IOLs, both aspheric IOLs can significantly decrease spherical aberration and improve visual performance without the reduction of pseudoaccommodation amplitude.