Refractive and diffractive contribution of linear chromatic aberration (LCA) on depth-of-focus with trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs)

Purpose:

To investigate the refractive and diffractive contribution of LCA on depth of focus extension of trifocal IOLs in polychromatic light conditions

Setting:

University of Liège, Belgium; Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris

Methods:

The LCAs associated with the three focal points of hydrophobic and hydrophilic diffractive FineVision trifocal IOLs (PhysIOL SA, Liège, Belgium), were simulated in an Arizona eye model and experimentally measured on an optical bench at 480, 546 and 650 nm. The effect of Abbe number and aperture on different IOL materials was also evaluated. Based on wavelength–dependent MTF through-focus curves and PSF properties, polychromatic behavior of the trifocal IOLs was assessed under mesopic and photopic conditions.

Results:

LCA amplitude and sign were different for each of the trifocal IOL focal points. The diffractive LCA for near and intermediate was independent of IOL material (GFree versus hydrophilic acrylic, 26%), while far vision LCA appeared to be controlled by the material Abbe number. Under polychromatic conditions, the LCA contributed to depth of focus extension with different types of lens material, providing maximal visual acuity under white light conditions at all distances.

Conclusions:

Diffractive trifocal IOLs show chromatic aberrations with an increase in depth of focus under polychromatic light. This effect likely contributes to the extended range of vision.