Visual outcome and optical quality of a wavefront-engineered extended depth of focus intraocular lens

PURPOSE To evaluate visual performance and optical quality of an extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens (EDoF IOL) compared with a monofocal aspheric IOL. SETTING Department of Ophthalmology, Charite-Medical University Berlin, Germany. DESIGN Prospective case series. METHODS After phacoemulsification, a total of 28 patients (56 eyes) underwent bilateral implantation of either the Mini Well (EDoF IOL) or the Mini 4 (monofocal IOL). Assessments including refraction, distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, defocus curves, contrast sensitivity, glare disability, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and patient satisfaction were performed at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS Both study groups comprised 14 patients (28 eyes) each. At 3-month follow-up, the EDoF IOL showed better results in monocular uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (-0.04 vs 0.10 logMAR, P = .000) and in uncorrected near visual acuity (0.13 vs 0.36 logMAR, P = .000), whereas no statistically significant difference was found between groups in monocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.04 vs 0.00 logMAR, P = .110). The monocular depth of focus was 0.8 D greater in the Mini Well IOL group. Measurements of internal HOAs revealed a greater negative primary spherical aberration in the EDoF group at pupil sizes of 2.0 to 5.0 mm. At 5.0 mm, total internal HOAs did not differ statistically significantly (0.376 vs 0.340 μm root mean square, P = .068). CONCLUSIONS The Mini Well IOL provided greater depth of focus with superior outcomes at intermediate and near distances and comparable outcomes at far distance. Although inducing higher amounts of spherical aberration, it showed good results under low lighting conditions with little subjective dysphotopsia.