Comparison of amplitude of apparent accommodation in pseudophakic eyes with that of normal accommodation in phakic eyes in various age groups

Purpose To compare the amplitude of apparent accommodation in eyes with monofocal intraocular lenses with that of normal accommodation in the phakic fellow eyes in various age groups. Patients and methods In all, 130 eyes of 130 patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery, and 130 fellow eyes that had little cataract and good visual acuity of 20/33 or better were studied. The following groups were studied: in their 40s and younger ( n = 20) or in their 50s ( n = 30), 60s ( n = 30), 70s ( n = 30), and 80s ( n = 20). Using an accommodometer ( Kowa HS-9E), the accommodative amplitude was measured at 1 month after surgery. Results In the patients in their 40s and younger or in their 50s, the amplitude of apparent accommodation was significantly less than that of normal accommodation; no significant difference was observed in the patients in their 60s, 70s, or 80s. The incidence of patients in whom the amplitude of apparent accommodation was more than that of normal accommodation was greater in the patients in their 60s, 70s, and 80s than in the patients in their 40s and younger and in their 50s. Conclusion The amplitude of apparent accommodation is virtually equivalent to that of normal accommodation in patients older than 60 years of age.