The Influence of Chromatic Aberration on Visual Quality in Patients With Trifocal Intraocular Lenses

Purpose: To investigate how varying levels of longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) affect visual quality in patients with trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients implanted with trifocal IOLs were assessed for corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), defocus curves, the contrast sensitivity function, and the area under the logarithmic contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF). The measurements were performed under natural viewing conditions after introducing +1.00 and -1.00 diopters (D) of LCA using zero-power triplet lenses.

Results: CDVA was -0.10 ± 0.09, -0.07 ± 0.09, and -0.08 ± 0.08 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) with natural, enhanced, and reduced LCA, respectively. At defocus levels of 0.00 to -1.50 D, visual acuity decrease was steeper under natural conditions than under conditions with more positive LCA. At a defocus level of -2.50 D, visual acuity was 0.02 ± 0.09, 0.03 ± 0.08, and 0.06 ± 0.14 logMAR with natural, elevated, and reduced LCA, respectively. The AULCSF was 1.19 ± 0.12 under natural and reduced LCA conditions. Increasing LCA lowered the AULCSF to 1.12 ± 0.13 ( ≤ .0001).

Conclusions: LCA elevation led to a slight enhancement of depth of focus while not substantially affecting vision at far focus. Reducing LCA with an achromatizing triplet lens failed to improve CDVA and contrast sensitivity. Likewise, at intermediate and near viewing distances, lowering LCA did not improve visual function. .