Abstract

Aim: To study of visual functions with multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after phacoemulsification in patients with age-related cataract.
Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, Madhubani Medical College and Hospital, Madhubani, Bihar, India for 10 months. Patients between 40-80 years reporting with cataract (less than grade 3), managed by phacoemulsification and willing for implantation of multifocal IOLs and having astigmatism less than 1.5D cylinder were included in the study. Group A underwent phacoemulsification with multifocal [refractive-diffractive design] IOL implantation. Group B underwent phacoemulsification with monofocal IOL implantation
Results: In multifocal group, the number of female patients were more as compared to male patients, thus difference among the two groups was not statistically significant, the p-value being 0.112(>0.05). On post-operative day 1, the UCVA was found to be 6/12 in 15 patients (30%), 6/9 in 11patients (22%), 6/18 in 11 patients (22%), 6/24 in 8 patients (16%) while 6/6 in 5 patients (10%) while in monofocal it was 6/9 in 21 patients (42%) and 6/12 in 17 patients (34%) while 6/18 in 7 patients (14%) and 6/6 in 5 patients (10%). At the last follow-up, there were 22 patients (44%) with 6/9 vision, 16 patients (32%) with 6/12, and 12 patients with 6/6 vision while in monofocal group 25 patients (50%) had 6/12 vision, 18 patients (36%) had 6/9 vision while only 7 patients (14%) had 6/6 vision (Table 1). However, both at first post-operative day and last follow-up the two group’s visual acuity was found to be statistically insignificant with p-value less than 0.05. There was no significant change in the near visual acuity in the monofocal group with 35 patients (70%) with N18 visual acuity, 9 patients (18%) with N12 and 2 patient (4%) with N24 visual acuity, thus showing there was paramount statistical significance between the groups with p-value higher than 0.05. In monofocal group at last follow-up 35 patients (70%) had N24 visual acuity, 12 patients (24%) had N18 visual acuity and only 3 patients with N10 visual acuity. Thus, showing there was paramount statistical significance between the groups with p-value higher than 0.05.
Conclusion: Mutifocal IOLs decrease the spectacle dependence of patients without compromising the subjective visual functions.