Standard Monofocal Intraocular Lenses Versus Enhanced Monofocal Intraocular Lenses for Children 6 to 13 Years Old With Pediatric Cataract

Purpose To investigate whether using an enhanced monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) in the pediatric age group can improve the visual performance at varying distances in comparison to standard monofocal lenses. Methods Forty-five eyes of children aged 6 to 13 years with unilateral or bilateral cataract were prospectively randomized into two groups: the monofocal group (23 eyes) who had a standard monofocal aspheric lens (Tecnis Model ZCB00) implanted and the enhanced mono-focal group (22 eyes) who had an enhanced monofocal lens (Tecnis Eyhance ICB00) implanted (both Johnson & Johnson Vision). Target refraction was emmetropia. Visual acuity was measured at distance, intermediate, and near distance 3 months postoperatively. Defocus curves wearing distance correction were plotted. Results Unilateral cataract surgery with Eyhance and Tecnis monofocal implantation was performed in 10 and 9 patients, respectively. Thirteen children underwent bilateral surgery, 4 had an Eyhance IOL implanted in one eye and a Tecnis monofocal IOL in the other eye, 4 had bilateral Eyhance IOL implantation, and 5 had bilateral Tecnis mono-focal IOL implantation. Uncorrected and corrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, and the power of near add were comparable between both groups ( P > .05). Mean visual acuity through the defocus range was significantly better ( P < .01) in the Eyhance group (0.30 vs 0.41). Conclusions Use of an enhanced monofocal IOL improved visual performance at intermediate distances of greater than 1 meter but did not reduce the power of spectacles needed for distances of less than 1 meter.