Cataract is the leading cause of reversible vision loss, while glaucoma remains the primary cause of irreversible blindness, often impairing contrast sensitivity (CS), glare tolerance, and dark adaptation. These visual challenges are particularly relevant when selecting intraocular lenses (IOLs) for glaucoma patients undergoing cataract surgery.
Monofocal IOLs are the safest and most commonly used option for glaucoma patients due to their optical simplicity and low incidence of photic phenomena, though they do not provide spectacle independence for near or intermediate vision. Multifocal IOLs (MFIOLs), while offering greater spectacle independence, are relatively contraindicated in glaucoma due to increased visual disturbances like glare and halos.
Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) IOLs offer an intermediate solution, using advanced optics to provide a continuous range of vision and fewer photic disturbances than MFIOLs. EDOF lenses have demonstrated good uncorrected distance and intermediate visual acuity in patients with mild to moderate glaucoma, with promising CS outcomes and high patient satisfaction. However, findings on CS performance remain inconsistent across studies.
Given these considerations, this study seeks to determine whether EDOF IOLs can be a viable alternative to monofocal lenses in glaucoma patients, potentially expanding their options for spectacle independence without compromising visual quality. The trial, conducted at OMIQ (Barcelona), will directly compare an EDOF IOL and a monofocal IOL made from the same material to assess their effects on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and photic phenomena in this specific patient population.