Evaluating the effects of trifocals and extended depth of focus intraocular lens implantation on stereopsis and contrast sensitivity in cataract patients

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of trifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) on stereopsis and contrast sensitivity following cataract surgery. METHOD: This randomized, prospective, comparative study was conducted at the cataract department of a tertiary eye hospital. A total of 70 patients scheduled for cataract extraction were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 received AcrySof IQ PanOptix trifocal IOLs, while Group 2 received AcrySof IQ Vivity EDOF IOLs. Comprehensive evaluations were performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 week and 1 month. RESULTS: At 1 week postoperatively, both trifocal IOLs and EDOF IOLs demonstrated comparable outcomes in contrast sensitivity and stereopsis. At 1 month, stereopsis was significantly better in the EDOF group (89.14 ± 46.86 arc sec) than in the trifocal group (118.28 ± 44.81 arc sec; P = 0.017). Contrast sensitivity improved significantly in the EDOF group ( P = 0.023) but remained stable in the trifocal group. Intergroup contrast sensitivity differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Both IOLs provided good stereopsis and contrast sensitivity in the early postoperative period. However, by 1 month, EDOF IOLs demonstrated significantly better stereopsis and improved contrast sensitivity.