AIM: To compare the postoperative quality of life between patients who underwent binocular and unilateral Symfony continuous-vision intraocular lens(IOL)implantation.

METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was performed. The visual function-related quality of life(QoL)was evaluated with the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25(NEI VFQ-25)which was developed by the National Eye Institute. Thirty patients(60 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation from March 2017 to March 2018 were divided into two groups according to the type of implanted IOL. For bilateral group(36 eyes in 18 cases), patients accepted TECNIS Symfony(ZXR00, AMO)in both eyes. For unilateral group(24 eyes in 12 cases), patients accepted TECNIS Symfony(ZXR00, AMO)in one eye and an aspherical monofocal IOL(PCB00,AMO)in the other eye. Follow-up was performed 3-6mo after surgery. Postoperative binocular uncorrected distant, intermediate and near visual acuity(bUCDVA, bUCIVA and bUCNVA)were compared and the quality of life was evaluated for every patient.

RESULTS:There were no statistical differences in bUCDVA, bUCIVA and bUCNVA between two groups(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in composite scores of the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire between bilateral group and unilateral group(88.95±4.01 vs 88.99±4.22, t=-0.025, P=0.980). A comparison of the 12 scales acquired from the questionnaire showed that there were no statistical differences in visual function-related quality of life in the two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION:Compared with bilateral implantation of ZXR00, the patients with the implantation of ZXR00 in one eye and PCB00 in the other eye share the excellent binocular uncorrected distant, intermediate and near visual acuity and postoperative quality of life. For patients who have undergone monofocal IOL implantation in one eye or whose one eye is not suitable for multifocal IOLs, unilateral implantation of Symfony continuous-vision IOL is feasible to meet patients' need for spectacle independency.