Posters

Visual and non-visual benefits of violet-filtering IOLs

Poster Details

First Author: D.Chang USA

Co Author(s):    R. Rosen   C. Canovas   M. Faria Ribeiro   P. Piers           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Intraocular lens (IOL) chromophores can block transmission of short wavelength/high energy light. Such light filtration may affect patient outcomes and prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. However, blue light filtering can impact scotopic vision and melanopsin function. Recent evidence suggests filtering violet light (below 450 nm) and retaining full blue light (450-500 nm) transmission could achieve the benefits without the causing the side effects of high energy light filtration. The current study will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of violet light filtering and blue light filtering IOL chromophores.

Setting:

Twelve sites in the USA of America; AMO Groningen BV, Groningen, The Netherlands

Methods:

Visual and questionnaire outcomes were compared from a clinical study of 240 patients implanted with either violet light filtering or clear IOLs. Scotopic vision performance, protection against ROS formation, and melanopsin function were simulated from absorption spectra of the crystalline lens at different ages as well as clear, violet light filtering, and blue light filtering IOLs obtained from the published literature.

Results:

Patients receiving violet light filtering IOLs had a higher proportion reporting no difficulty when driving at night (53% vs 44% for clear, p=0.017) and a higher proportion reporting no frustration with vision (90% vs 80%, p=0.033). Compared to blue light filtration, violet light filtration retained 90.5% vs 69.3% of scotopic vision, prevented 88% vs 87.6% of ROS formation, and retained 74.8% vs 53.1% of melanopsin function.

Conclusions:

Unlike blue light filtering, where some light below 420 nm is still transmitted, violet light filtering prevents all hazardous short wavelength light from being transmitted, while retaining important higher wavelength light. This sharper slope in the transmission curve allows violet light filtering chromophores to provide the same protection against subjective complaints and ROS formation while retaining most scotopic vision and greater melanopsin function.

Financial Disclosure:

is employed by a for-profit company with an interest in the subject of the presentation, travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, research is funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented