Reduced effect of glare disability on driving performance in patients with blue light–filtering intraocular lenses

Abstract

To compare the effects of glare on driving performance in patients who had implantation of a blue light-filtering acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) and those who had implantation of an acrylic IOL with no blue-light filter. Department of Applied Psychology, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona, USA. Cross-sectional study. Patients with a blue light-filtering AcrySof Natural SN60AT IOL (study group) and patients with an AcrySof SA60AT IOL with no blue-light filter (control group) who had good visual acuity and a valid driver's license performed left-turn maneuvers in a driving simulator in front of oncoming traffic. The safety margin (time to collision minus time taken to turn at intersection with oncoming traffic) was calculated. The measurements were repeated with a glare source simulating low-angle sun conditions (daytime driving). With glare, the safety margin was statistically significantly greater in the study group (n= 17) than in the control group (n = 17) (mean 2.534 seconds ± 0.488 [SD] and 2.116 ± 0.511 seconds, respectively) (P < .05). Comparing no-glare conditions and glare conditions, the study group had significantly lower glare susceptibility, fewer collisions with the oncoming car, and a lower impact on intersection approach speed than the control group. The IOL incorporating blue light-filtering technology significantly reduced glare disability and improved the driver's ability to safely execute a left turn with oncoming traffic in the presence of glare simulating low-angle sun conditions. The real-world benefit of this technology is presumably mediated by a stronger signal to detect approaching objects (motion-in-depth) as a result of a reduction in glare disability. No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes.