Optical performance of toric intraocular lenses in the presence of decentration

· AIM: To evaluate the optical performance of toric intraocular lenses(IOLs) after decentration and with different pupil diameters, but with the IOL astigmatic axis aligned.· METHODS: Optical performances of toric T5 and SN60 AT spherical IOLs after decentration were tested on a theoretical pseudophakic model eye based on the Hwey-Lan Liou schematic eye using the Zemax ray-tracing program. Changes in optical performance were analyzed in model eyes with 3-mm, 4-mm, and 5-mm pupil diameters and decentered from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm with an interval of 5° at the meridian direction from0° to 90°. The ratio of the modulation transfer function(MTF) between a decentered and a centered IOL(MTFDecentration/MTFCentration) was calculated to analyze the decrease in optical performance.· RESULTS: Optical performance of the toric IOL remained unchanged when IOLs were decentered in any meridian direction. The MTFs of the two IOLs decreased,whereas optical performance remained equivalent after decentration. The MTFDecentration/MTFCentrationratios of the IOLs at a decentration from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm were comparable in the toric and SN60 AT IOLs. After decentration, MTF decreased further, with the MTF of the toric IOL being slightly lower than that of the SN60 AT IOL. Imaging qualities of the two IOLs decreased when the pupil diameter and the degree of decentration increased, but the decrease was similar in the toric and spherical IOLs.· CONCLUSION: Toric IOLs were comparable to spherical IOLs in terms of tolerance to decentration at the correct axial position.