Binocular function to increase visual outcome in patients implanted with a diffractive trifocal intraocular lens

Background: To evaluate binocular visual outcome for near, intermediate and distance compared to monocular visual outcome at the same distances in patients implanted with a diffractive trifocal intraocular lens (IOL). Methods: The study comprised of 100 eyes of 50 patients that underwent bilateral refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery with implantation of a multifocal diffractive IOL (AT LISA tri 839MP, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Germany). A complete ophthalmological examination was performed preoperatively and 3 month postoperatively. The main outcome measures were monocular and binocular uncorrected distance (UDVA), corrected distance (CDVA), uncorrected intermediate (UIVA), and uncorrected near visual acuities (UNVA), keratometry, and manifest refraction. Results: The mean age was 59.28 years +/- 9.6 [SD] (range 44-79 years), repectively. There was significant improvement in UDVA, UIVA, UNVA and CDVA. Comparing the monocular results to the binocular results there was a statistical significant better binocular outcome in all distances (UDVA p = 0.036; UIVA p < 0.0001; UNVA p = 0.001). The postoperative manifest refraction was in 86 % of patients within +/- 0.50 [D]. Conclusions: The trifocal IOL improved near, intermediate, and distance vision compared to preoperatively. In addition a statistical significant increase for binocular visual function in all distances could be found.