Clinical Outcomes of Combined Implantation of an Extended Depth of Focus IOL and a Trifocal IOL in a Korean Population

Purpose: To evaluate monocular and binocular visual performance and patient-reported outcomes following combined implantation of a diffractive extended depth of focus (EDoF) IOL (Carl Zeiss AT LARA 829MP) and a diffractive trifocal IOL (Carl Zeiss AT LISA tri 839MP).

Methods: This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients undergoing lens phacoemulsification of cataract and combined implantation of an EDoF IOL in the dominant eye and a trifocal IOL in the nondominant eye. Assessment included uncorrected visual acuity at near distances (UNVA), intermediate distances (UIVA), and far distances (UDVA), uncorrected defocus curve, contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed, and patient satisfaction, evaluated six months after the surgery with the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25).

Results: A total of 25 patients were enrolled. At six months postoperatively, outcomes of binocular UNVA, UIVA, and UDVA were superior to those of monocular outcomes. The binocular defocus curve showed significantly better results in comparison with the AT LISA tri IOL eyes at defocus levels of -1.0 D and -1.5 D (=0.008 and =0.002, respectively) and compared to the AT LARA IOL eyes at defocus levels of -3.0, -3.5 D, and -4.0 D (=0.019, =0.019, and =0.035, respectively). All of the patients were spectacle-free at far and intermediate distances, while 4% of patients needed spectacles at the near distance. Reading speed showed a rather high and gentle slope curve between 0.1 logMAR and 0.4 logMAR, and optical phenomena were improved after combined implantation of IOLs except halos. There were no significant differences in CS between the binocular and monocular results of each IOL.

Conclusions: The combined implantation of an EDoF IOL and a trifocal IOL seems to be a good option for patients with demands for spectacle independence in their daily life, with minimal photic phenomena.