Contralateral comparison of blue-filtering and non-blue-filtering intraocular lenses: Glare disability, heterochromatic contrast, and photostress recovery

Abstract

Purpose: To compare visual performance in eyes with intraocular lenses (IOLs) that filter short-wave blue light versus contralateral eyes with IOLs that do not filter visible blue light. Methods: In this prospective, assessor-masked study that was conducted at five clinics in the US, eligible candidates were at least 12 months postimplantation of a control IOL and a contralateral IOL that filtered blue light. Glare disability was defined as the intensity of a white-light annulus that obscured a subject's ability to see a central target. Heterochromatic contrast thresholds were defined as the intensity of a blue-light disk that obscured a central target. Photostress recovery time was the duration required to regain sight of the target after a five-second flash of annulus light. Results: Fifty-two subjects were evaluated. Mean glare disability was signif icantly less (P = 0.04) in the blue-filtering IOL group (1.97 ± 0.44 log μW/cm2) than in the control group (1.88 ± 0.43 log μW/cm2). Mean heterochromatic contrast threshold was significantly higher (P = 0.0003) in the blue-filtering IOL group (0.36 ± 0.43 log μW/cm2) than in the control IOL group (0.15 ± 0.49 log μW/cm2). Geometric mean photostress recovery time was significantly faster (P = 0.02) in the blue-filtering IOL group (21 ± 3 seconds) than in the control IOL group (26 ± 3 seconds). Conclusions: Glare disability was significantly lower, heterochromatic contrast threshold was significantly better, and recovery from photostress was significantly faster in the eyes with bluefiltering IOLs than in the contralateral control eyes with IOLs that did not filter blue light. © 2010 Hammond et al.