Reduced effect of glare disability on driving performance in patients with blue light–filtering intraocular lenses

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of glare on driving performance in patients who had implantation of a blue light–filtering acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) and those who had implantation of an acrylic IOL with no blue‐light filter. SETTING: Department of Applied Psychology, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona, USA. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study. METHODS: Patients with a blue light–filtering AcrySof Natural SN60AT IOL (study group) and patients with an AcrySof SA60AT IOL with no blue‐light filter (control group) who had good visual acuity and a valid driver’s license performed left‐turn maneuvers in a driving simulator in front of oncoming traffic. The safety margin (time to collision minus time taken to turn at intersection with oncoming traffic) was calculated. The measurements were repeated with a glare source simulating low‐angle sun conditions (daytime driving). RESULTS: With glare, the safety margin was statistically significantly greater in the study group (n = 17) than in the control group (n = 17) (mean 2.534 seconds ± 0.488 [SD] and 2.116 ± 0.511 seconds, respectively) (P < .05). Comparing no‐glare conditions and glare conditions, the study group had significantly lower glare susceptibility, fewer collisions with the oncoming car, and a lower impact on intersection approach speed than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The IOL incorporating blue light–filtering technology significantly reduced glare disability and improved the driver’s ability to safely execute a left turn with oncoming traffic in the presence of glare simulating low‐angle sun conditions. The real‐world benefit of this technology is presumably mediated by a stronger signal to detect approaching objects (motion‐in‐depth) as a result of a reduction in glare disability. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes.

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