Purpose  

To compare all-distance visual acuity (VA) between eyes with a nontinted diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL), a yellow-tinted multifocal IOL, and a nontinted monofocal IOL.

Methods  

Thirty-four patients underwent bilateral implantation of a nontinted multifocal IOL (Alcon ReSTOR), 30 received a yellow-tinted multifocal IOL (ReSTOR Natural), and 17 a monofocal IOL. All-distance VA was measured with an all-distance vision tester at 12 months postoperatively. The relationships between pupillary diameter and IOL decentration and tilt with VA were determined.

Results  

Both uncorrected and best distance-corrected near VA in the multifocal groups were significantly better than those in the monofocal group, whereas no significant differences were found in far-to-intermediate VAs. There was no significant difference in all-distance VA between the nontinted and yellow-tinted multifocal groups. In the multifocal groups, a larger pupillary diameter was associated with better near VA, whereas there was no correlation between VA and IOL decentration and tilt.

Conclusions  

Near VA with a diffractive multifocal IOL was better than that with a monofocal IOL, although far-to-intermediate VAs were similar. All-distance VA with the nontinted multifocal IOL was similar to that with the yellow-tinted multifocal IOL. Larger pupillary diameter was associated with better near VA with the multifocal IOL.