To compare postoperative optical qualities between two types of 1-piece aspheric intraocular lenses using the double-pass technique.

Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and spherical equivalent were evaluated in the subject groups; the first which included 25 eyes implanted with Tecnis® ZCB00 and the second which included 16 eyes implanted with Acrysof® IQ SN60WF. In addition, modulation transfer function (MTF) cut-off, Strehl ratio, and objective scattering index (OSI) were measured 6 months after cataract surgery in the 2 subject groups using Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS, Visiometrics S.L., Terrasa, Barcelona, Spain) which is based on the double-pass technique.

There were no significant differences in the spherical equivalent, UCVA, BCVA, and OSI between the 2 groups. However, both the MTF cut-off, and Strehl ratio showed statistically significant differences. The MTF cut-off (28.0 ± 7.79 vs. 20.4 ± 9.51 c/deg, p = 0.025) and Strehl ratio (0.14 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.05, p = 0.042) were higher in the Tecnis® ZCB00-implanted group.

The difference in characteristics of intraocular lenses subtly affects the vision quality as measured by values such as MTF cut-off and Strehl ratio after cataract surgery. OQAS based on the double-pass technique is considered useful in more objective estimates of the real retinal image quality after cataract surgery which is difficult to explain simply by measuring visual acuity.