The comparison of intermediate visual acuity in patients treated for epiretinal membrane by phaco-vitrectomy with bifocal LENTIS Comfort LS-313 MF15 lens (Oculentis®) and monofocal lens insertion.

Abstract

Purpose : The most commonly used treatment for epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a phaco-vitrectomy including a monofocal lens implantation. It remains questionable, if the usage of a bi- or multifocal lens instead, would positively affect the visual acuity of those patients. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare the intermediate visual acuity in patients treated for ERM by phaco-vitrectomy with membrane peeling and the insertion of bifocal LENTIS Comfort LS-313 MF15 lens (Oculentis®, Germany) or monofocal lens.

Methods : 20 patients (mean age: 67 years) with ERM undergoing phaco-vitrectomy were included into the study. In 10 patients (G1) the bifocal LENTIS Comfort LS-313 MF15 lens (Oculentis®, Germany) was inserted, in other 10 patients (G2)- standard monofocal lens. All the patients underwent thorough ophthalmologic examination including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and IOL Master before the operation (T0) and also 6 to 12 months after the surgery (T1). The examination in T1 included also visual acuity estimation (the number of read letters) in the distance of 4 m, 80 cm and 40 cm by using ETDRS charts.

Results : There were no statistically significant differences considering age, preoperative vision acuity and the retinal thickness in T0 and T1 between two groups of patients (G1 versus G2). The number of letters read for the distance of 80cm (uncorrected intermediate vision acuity- UIVA) was significantly greater in G1 (mean UIVA= 57 in G1 versus mean UIVA= 48 in G2; p<0,005). There was no significant difference in the vision acuity in 40cm distance (uncorrected near vision acuity- UNVA) and also in 4m distance (uncorrected distant vision acuity- UDVA and best corrected distant vision acuity- BCDVA) between G1 and G2.

Conclusions : The patients with MF15 lens presented significantly better UIVA and similar UNVA, UDVA and BCDVA in comparison to the patients with monofocal lens. The insertion of bifocal or multifocal instead of monofocal lens during phaco-vitrectomy for the treatment of epiretinal membrane should be considered as it can affect favorably the patient’s life quality.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.