"COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VISUAL OUTCOMES AND EFFICACY: LUXSMART EXTENDED DEPTH OF FOCUS VS. AKREOS MONOFOCAL INTRAOCULAR LENSES AFTER CATARACT SURGERY"

The study was conducted at Benghazi Eye Hospital in Libya between August 2023 and September 2024, a leading center for cataract surgery in the region. The hospital is equipped with advanced surgical and diagnostic tools and has experienced ophthalmologists performing surgeries.

This retrospective study was conducted at Benghazi Eye Hospital, a specialized ophthalmology center in Libya, between August 2023 and September 2024. 

A total of 100 patients aged 54 to 68 who underwent bilateral cataract surgery were included. They were randomly assigned to receive either LuxSmart EDOF IOL or Akreos monofocal IOL. Inclusion criteria: clinical indication for cataract surgery, corneal astigmatism ≤0.75D, photopic pupil diameter >2mm, and axial length between 22.5 and 24.99mm. Exclusion criteria: diabetes, prior eye surgery, corneal pathology, or retinal/optic nerve disease.

Preoperative assessments included biomicroscopy, tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, specular microscopy, and biometry. Surgery was performed using a 2.4mm clear corneal incision, and IOL power was calculated using the Barrett Universal II formula. Postoperative care included topical steroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotics. Patients were evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Key outcomes: distance visual acuity (6m), intermediate visual acuity (66cm), near visual acuity (40cm), corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, and defocus curves. The Catquest-9SF questionnaire assessed patient-reported visual function and photic phenomena (halo, glare, starbursts). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS™ version 23.0, with significance at p<0.05.

The LuxSmart group (mean age: 64 ± 6.3 years) and Akreos group (mean age: 71 ± 4.7 years) had no significant age differences (p=0.42). At 6 months post-surgery, refractive outcomes were comparable, with both groups near emmetropia (p=0.37). In the LuxSmart group, 91.3% of patients were within 0.5D of the target refraction, compared to 83.5% in the Akreos group. All patients achieved 20/20 corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). LuxSmart had significantly better intermediate visual acuity (p<0.001), with all patients achieving uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) better than 20/40. LuxSmart patients also had superior uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) compared to Akreos (p=0.02). Both groups reported minimal photic phenomena with no significant differences in halos or glare (p=0.75, p=0.63). LuxSmart patients expressed higher satisfaction for near and intermediate tasks like reading and using computers, while both groups reported comparable satisfaction for distance vision tasks.

The LuxSmart EDOF IOL provided better intermediate and near visual acuity than the Akreos monofocal IOL, with minimal visual disturbances. Both IOLs achieved excellent distance vision. LuxSmart showed higher patient satisfaction for daily tasks, making it a strong option for balanced post-cataract visual performance.