Comparative Study of Multifocal Versus Monofocal Lenses after Cataract Extraction Surgery

The lens is a highly organised, transparent structure that has evolved to alter the refractive index of light entering the eyes. With the practice of cataract extraction surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation good unaided distance visual acuity is now a realistic expectation post-surgery. Monovision does not allow full advantages of binocularity, including stereopsis at near. Multifocal lenses provide multiple ‘point of focuses’ and thus provides a good distance and near visual acuity. The aim of this study was to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to visual acuity both distant and near, to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to contrast sensitivity, to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to spectacle independence, and to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to complaints of glare and halos and patient’s visual satisfaction. Thus it was concluded that the distance vision without glasses was almost similar in both groups, near vision without glasses was better in the multifocal group, complaints of reduced contrast sensitivity were found in the multifocal IOL group as compared to monofocal IOL group at low contrast levels, patients with multifocal IOL implant achieved spectacle independence more often, there was no significant difference between the multifocal and monofocal IOL groups with respect to complaints of halos and glare, patients overall satisfaction with vision was high and equal across the two groups, and revealing that adequate counselling can lead to patient satisfaction regardless of spectacle independence or photic phenomena.