AIM: To compare the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification respectively combined with diffractive multifocal intraocular lens(IOL)and monofocal IOL implantation in the treatment of cataract.

METHODS: A total of 99 cataract patients(145 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation in the hospital from January 2015 to February 2019 were divided into observation group(n=51, 75 eyes)and control group(n=48, 70 eyes)according to the non-randomized clinical trial and patient voluntary principles. The observation group was treated with diffractive multifocal IOL implantation, while the control group was treated with monofocal IOL implantation. The visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell count, loss rate of corneal endothelial cells, results of corneal topography, and contrast sensitivity(CS)in daytime, day glare time, nighttime and night glare time were compared between two groups. The complications and spectacles-independent rate were counted.

RESULTS: At 1wk, 1mo and 3mo, there were no significant differences in the best corrected distance visual acuity(BCDVA)and best corrected near visual acuity(BCNVA)between two groups(P>0.05). However, the uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCDVA)at 1wk and 1mo, the uncorrected near visual acuity(UCNVA)and the distance corrected near visual acuity(DCNVA)at 1wk, 1mo and 3mo of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05). After surgery, corneal endothelial cell counts and astigmatism of two groups decreased significantly. No significant differences were found in corneal endothelial cell count, loss rate of corneal cells and astigmatism between two groups(P>0.05). CS in daytime of 1.5c/d frequency band, in day glare time of 1.5c/d, 3c/d and 6c/d frequency bands, in nighttime of 3c/d and 18c/d frequency bands, in night glare time of 3c/d, 6c/d and 18 c/d frequency bands were significantly lower, while CS in daytime of 12c/d frequency band was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between two groups(P<0.05), but the spectacles-independent rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification combined with diffractive multifocal IOL implantation can obtain good total range visual acuity, with a higher spectacles-independent rate and relatively low CS after surgery.