Visual performance, safety, and patient satisfaction after binocular clear lens extraction and trifocal intraocular lens implantation in Chinese presbyopic patients

Addressing presbyopia in the aging population, particularly in non-cataractous patients, remains a challenge. This study evaluates the outcomes of refractive lens exchange (RLE) with AT LISA tri 839MP trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in a Chinese presbyopic population without cataracts.

The study included 164 eyes from 82 patients undergoing bilateral RLE at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Comprehensive evaluations encompassed visual acuities, refraction, ocular aberrometry, and subjective outcomes via the VF-14 questionnaire. The focus was on postoperative visual performance, refractive outcomes, safety, objective optical quality, and patient satisfaction.

100%, 90.2%, and 89.0% of patients achieved binocular UDVA, UNVA, and UIVA of logMAR 0.1 or better at 6 months postoperatively. 97.6% of eyes were within ± 1.00 D of emmetropia postoperatively. Optical quality assessments showed increases in modulation transfer function and Strehl ratios (p < 0.05). High-order aberrations decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Despite the high incidence of posterior capsule opacification (83.2%), managed with early Nd: YAG capsulotomy, no other severe complications were reported. Patient-reported outcomes indicated high satisfaction, with an average VF-14 score of 94.3 ± 10.2 and 93.5% achieving complete spectacle independence. Halo (66.2%) was the most commonly reported optical phenomena, followed by glare (18.2%), and starburst (7.8%) after surgery.

Bilateral RLE with trifocal IOLs in presbyopic patients without cataracts significantly improves visual acuity and reduces ocular aberrations in presbyopic patients. The procedure offers high patient satisfaction and spectacle independence, though it requires careful patient selection and management of expectations regarding potential photic phenomena.