Light-transmission-spectrum comparison of foldable intraocular lenses

Purpose: To compare the light transmittance of 4 currently marketed intraocular lenses (IOLs) with that of the new AcrySof((R)) Natural IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.), which is designed to mimic the light-attenuating characteristics of the human crystalline lens. Setting. Research laboratory, Alcon Research, Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas, USA Methods: Light-transmission spectra of 4 commonly implanted IOLs were compared with the spectrum of the AcrySof((R)) Natural IOL (model SN60AT). Results: While the 4 other foldable IOLs transmitted nearly 100% (near 0% absorption) of the light in the 400 to 500 nm (blue-light) region, the AcrySof((R)) Natural IOL absorbed a significant portion of blue light. Comparison of the spectrum of the AcrySof((R)) Natural IOL with the spectrum of human crystalline lenses of various ages showed that the AcrySof Natural lens closely mimics the light-attenuating characteristics of the human crystalline lens. Conclusions: The AcrySof Natural IOL provides a transmission spectrum more like that of a human crystalline lens than do other commonly implanted foldable IOLs. The Natural IOL reduces ultraviolet and blue-light exposure to the retina, mimicking the filtering normally provided by the human crystalline lens. (C) 2004 ASCRS and ESCRS.