VISUAL ACUITY OUTCOME ANALYSIS AND SPECTACLE INDEPENDENCE AFTER TORIC MULTIFOCAL INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTATION IN CATARACT PATIENTS

BACKGROUND The present study is carried out to evaluate the visual outcome after performing cataract surgery with toric multi focal IOL implantation. Toric multifocal IOL implantation is an outcome to meet the need of patients for spectacle independence in cataract patients. This technology is applied in patients with cataract and also pre-existing corneal astigmatism of more than 1.25 D who were dependent on spectacles for distance vision. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single centre by a single surgeon. 40 eyes of 20 patients with cataract and preexisting corneal astigmatism of more than 1.25 D (D) were analysed in the study at Mahathma Eye Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. AMO ECToric multifocal IOL was used. Both sexes in the age group 30-80 were enrolled. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed using Snellen visual acuity chart at 3 months post op. Rotational stability of the IOL was assessed by slitlamp method. Patient satisfaction was studied by the questionnaire called Response Rating Scale. All the patients received toric multifocal IOL implants. All patients were bilaterally treated. RESULTS All the patients studied had total spectacle independence. 90% of them had uncorrected visual acuity 6/6 after careful pre-operative patient selection, un-complicated phacoemulsification, selecting appropriate IOL formula and using a toric multi focal IOL with good rotational stability. CONCLUSION Toric multifocal IOL is a reliable and safe technology that could be confidently used in patients with cataract and co-existing precorneal astigmatism to achieve the goal of spectacle independence for distance, near and intermediate vision.