Understanding the accommodating intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To review current accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) designs and introduce a new design consisting of a plus lens and a minus lens.

SETTING

Cornea Consultants of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

METHODS

Computer simulation studies of a model eye calculated the pseudoaccommodation range with different powers of 1 IOL or of 2 IOLs acting as a doublet.

RESULTS

The doublet consisting of a convex (plus) lens and a concave (minus) lens gave a greater range of power change than a single convex lens or a doublet consisting of 2 convex lenses. The greater range of power results from the plus lens moving forward.

CONCLUSION

The results show that an IOL design consisting of positive and negative lenses that move closer or farther from each other offers a greater range of pseudoaccommodation than other designs.