Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading speed, and wavefront analysis: pseudophakic eye with multifocal IOL (ReSTOR) versus fellow phakic eye in non-presbyopic patients.

PURPOSE To compare the visual performance in the pseudophakic eye and the phakic eye in four patients who underwent unilateral intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS Four patients presenting with unilateral cataract underwent ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories, Ft Worth, Tex) IOL implantation in their nondominant eye, targeting emmetropia. RESULTS Uncorrected near visual acuity was >20/32 in all operated eyes and best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity was 20/16 for two eyes, 20/25 for one eye, and 20/32 for one eye. Reading speed was similar between the eyes, but not for critical print size. Contrast sensitivity was lower in the pseudophakic eyes. Wavefront analysis showed no considerable difference in total high order aberrations, coma, and spherical aberration between eyes for all patients. CONCLUSIONS In young patients with unilateral cataract surgery, unilateral multifocal IOL implantation provides satisfactory visual acuity and may be considered an alternative treatment option in this patient population.