RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the distance visual outcome with the Array(R) multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) is comparable to that of a monofocal IOL in eyes with concurrent disease and to assess whether these eyes benefit from the IOL's multifocality. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, United Kingdom. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 133 eyes of 111 patients with cataract and concurrent disease such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Eighty-one eyes (70 patients) received an Array multifocal IOL after phacoemulsification. A control group of 52 eyes (41 patients) received a monofocal IOL of similar design (AMO SI-40NB). Visual outcomes in terms of uncorrected and best corrected distance and near acuities were evaluated. RESULTS: In both the multifocal and the monofocal IOL groups, the number of eyes achieving a best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 and N8 or better (55 and 37 eyes, respectively) was comparable (P > or =.999; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.152 to 0.172). There was a borderline statistically significant difference in the number of eyes achieving an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better and N8 or better in the multifocal IOL (11 eyes) and monofocal (2 eyes) groups (P =.047, 95% CI -0.001 to 0.196). A significantly higher number of eyes in the multifocal group (40 eyes) than in the monofocal IOL group (4 eyes) achieved a distance-corrected acuity of 6/12 and N8 or better (P =.0001; 95% CI 0.274 to 0.539). CONCLUSIONS: The Array multifocal IOL produced distance visual outcomes comparable to those of the AMO SI-40NB monofocal IOL in patients with concurrent eye disease. A significant proportion of these patients benefited from the IOL's multifocality. Management of associated eye disease was not compromised by the nature of the IOL.