Effects of blue light–filtering intraocular lenses on the macula, contrast sensitivity, and color vision after a long-term follow-up

Abstract

PURPOSE: 

To evaluate the possible side effects and potential protection 5 years after implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) with a blue-light filter (yellow tinted).

SETTING: 

Ophthalmology Department, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

DESIGN: 

Prospective randomized clinical study.

METHODS: 

Patients with bilateral visually significant cataract randomly received an ultraviolet (UV) and blue light–filtering IOL (Acrysof Natural SN60AT) in 1 eye and an acrylic UV light–filtering only IOL (Acrysof SA60AT) in the fellow eye. The primary outcome measures were contrast sensitivity, color vision, and macular findings 5 years after surgery.

RESULTS: 

The study enrolled 60 eyes of 30 patients. There were no significant clinical or optical coherence tomography findings in terms of age-related macular degeneration in any eye. There were no statistically significant differences in central macular thickness between the 2 IOL groups (P=.712). There were also no significant between-group differences under photopic or scotopic conditions at any spatial frequency studied. No statistically significant differences in the color discrimination test were found between the 2 IOL groups (P=.674).

CONCLUSIONS: 

After 5 years, there were no significant differences in color perception, scotopic contrast sensitivity, or photopic contrast sensitivity between the blue light–filtering (yellow-tinted) IOL and the IOL with a UV-light filter only (untinted). The potential advantage of the tinted IOL in providing protection to macular cells remains unclear.

Financial Disclosure: 

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.