Multifocal IOL implant with or without capsular tension ring: study of wavefront error and visual performance

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual performance and wavefront error after multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) implant with or without capsular tension ring (CTR). METHODS: Sixty eyes of 60 candidates for phacoemulsification and MIOL implantation were included in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. Thirty eyes (group 1) were implanted with the AcrySof ReSTOR® SN60D3 MIOL and Corneal® ACPI 11 CTR and 30 eyes (group 2) received the same MIOL with no CTR. RESULTS: Twenty days and at 360 days after surgery, the uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity at high and low contrast were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The root mean square (RMS) of ocular and internal wavefront error was significantly different in the 2 groups early after surgery and did not modify significantly over the 1-year follow-up period. The RMS of total and internal high-order aberrations and ocular and internal trefoil and coma aberrations were significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (p<0.05). Ocular, corneal, internal modulation transfer function at high and low spatial frequencies and ocular, corneal, internal Strehl ratio were not significantly different between the groups. The IOL decentration and tilt were higher in group 1 compared to group 2. CONCLUSION: ReSTOR MIOL was effective in improving visual performance and provided a good quality of vision due to a significant reduction of high-order spherical aberration. The implant of CTR additionally reduced the ocular wavefront error related to a reduction of third-order aberration related to better IOL position.