To compare the visual performance of patients with bilateral vs combination Crystalens, ReZoom, and ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOLs) implants.

Prospective, nonrandomized study.

Forty-nine patients were implanted with bilateral Crystalens (Eyeonics, Aliso Viejo, California, USA), ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, Texas, USA), and ReZoom (American Medical Optics, Santa Clara, California, USA) or combined Crystalens and ReSTOR or Crystalens and ReZoom IOLs after phacoemulsification. Monocular and binocular testing four to six months after surgery included uncorrected and best-spectacle corrected visual acuity at distance, intermediate, and near vision; mesopic contrast sensitivity function with and without glare; and quality-of-life and vision surveys six months after surgery.

Monocular testing showed that eyes with Crystalens accommodating IOL had statistically better best-spectacle corrected distance, uncorrected and distance-corrected intermediate, and best-corrected near vision. Eyes with the ReSTOR multifocal IOL had better uncorrected near vision, required the lowest reading add, and had the lowest uncorrected and distance-corrected intermediate vision. Monocular mesopic contrast sensitivity with and without glare was better with the Crystalens IOL vs either multifocal IOL at specific spatial frequencies. The binocular subjective quality of vision and quality of life questionnaires were favorable for the bilateral Crystalens group.

Any combination of Crystalens in one or both eyes was better for intermediate vision. Any combination of ReSTOR in one or both eyes was better for near vision. The Crystalens and ReSTOR combination had better mean intermediate and near vision overall. A multifocal IOL in one or both eyes was associated with lower contrast sensitivity and more subjective reports of photic phenomena. The accommodating and multifocal IOL combinations elicited less night glare symptoms than in patients with either bilateral multifocal IOL, but more than with bilateral Crystalens implantation.