The aim of this study was to compare the visual outcomes of patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgery and received either trifocal or extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs). The study evaluated visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and glare pre and post-operatively to assess the efficacy of these two types of IOLs in cataract surgery patients. Method: A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed, and data was collected at Sight Center Eye Hospital over duration of nine months. The study included 30 participants who underwent cataract surgery and IOL implantation in one or both eyes. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. Visual acuity was measured using LogMAR charts at different viewing distances. Contrast sensitivity was assessed using Pelli-Robson charts, and glare sensitivity was measured using Photostress Recovery Time (PSRT). Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric comparisons. Result: The results showed that post-operative near visual acuity were significantly better in patients with trifocal IOLs compared to those with EDOF IOLs. However, there were no significant differences in intermediate and distance visual acuity between the two groups. Both types of IOLs demonstrated improvements in visual acuity after surgery. Contrast sensitivity improved significantly in both the trifocal and EDOF IOL groups post-operatively. There were no statistically significant differences in contrast sensitivity between the two groups, indicating that both types of IOLs were equally effective in enhancing contrast sensitivity. Glare sensitivity, as assessed by PSRT, showed a significant reduction in both groups after surgery. The EDOF IOL group exhibited a greater reduction in glare compared to the trifocal IOL group, suggesting potential advantages in managing bright light conditions. Conclusion: the findings of this study indicate that both trifocal and EDOF IOLs provide improvements in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and glare sensitivity after phacoemulsification surgery. Trifocal IOLs demonstrated better near visual acuity, while EDOF IOLs showed advantages in reducing glare. These results contribute valuable insights for clinicians and patients in selecting the most suitable IOL based on individual visual needs and preferences. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are recommended to validate and extend these findings.

Keywords: Cataract, Contrast sensitivity, Glare, Intermediate, Multifocal IOLs.