AIM: To compare the visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of eyes with different corneal spherical aberration implanted with the same aspherical IOL and evaluate the effect of different ocular spherical aberration on visual performance after phacoemulsification.

METHODS: It was a prospective case series study. Forty-six eyes of thirty-nine age-related cataract patients in our department were included. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the value of preoperative corneal spherical aberration. Eyes with corneal spherical aberration≤0.2μm were assigned to group A, those with corneal spherical aberration >0.2μm and ≤0.3μm to group B, and those with corneal spherical aberration ≥0.3μm to group C. All patients underwent phacoemulcification and recieved AcrySof IQ aspheric IOL. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), contrast sensitivity, and total ocular higher-order aberrations for a 6.0mm pupil were recorded 3mo postoperatively. ANOVA were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in UCVA and BCVA between the 3 groups(P=0.287, 0.115). Contrast sensitivity was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups at any spatial frequency under photopic、mesopic, and mesopic with glare conditions(P>0.05). With a 6.0mm pupil diameter, root mean square values for total ocular higher-order aberrations were lower in groups A and B than that in group C(P=0.000). The difference of total ocular spherical aberration was statistically significant between the 3 groups(P=0.000).Coma and trefoil were similar between the groups(P=0.788,0.590), with no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION: Implantation of the same aspherical IOL in eyes with different corneal spherical aberration results in similar visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Small differences of ocular spherical aberration after phacoemulsification have no effect on visual performance.