A new purely refractive extended depth of field (EDF) intraocular lens (IOL) has demonstrated excellent visual outcomes with reduced spectacle dependence, according to data presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), held in Copenhagen, Denmark, between September 12 to September 16, 2025.
The study evaluated outcomes in nearly 200 patients across 17 sites in Europe and Asia-Pacific who underwent cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange with the TECNIS PureSee™ EDF presbyopia correction IOL. By the time of the presentation, results from 238 patients were available, making it one of the largest real-world studies of this lens to date.
On average, the lens provided excellent distance, very good intermediate, and functional near vision, with minimal refractive error. Binocularly, 92% of subjects achieved 0.2 logMAR or better intermediate VA, and 78% achieved 0.3 logMAR or better near VA.
Nearly all patients reported high levels of spectacle independence:
96% needed glasses “none” or “a little of the time” for distance vision.
93% for intermediate distances.
62% for near vision.
Satisfaction was similarly strong, with 96% mostly or completely satisfied with distance vision, 94% with intermediate, 73% with near, and 95% with overall vision. Importantly, 96% reported that they would recommend the lens to family or friends.
Oliver Findl, head of the ophthalmology department at Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, who presented the findings, highlighted the advantages of the refractive EDF design: “The PureSee EDF IOL gave patients excellent distance, very good intermediate and functional near vision, which resulted in high patient satisfaction with less need for spectacles. The difference between some of these lenses and the EDF presbyopia correction IOL that we used in this study is that it is a fully ‘refractive’ IOL, meaning it uses variations in the lens curvature to focus light at a single distance. The surface of the lens is smooth and means you have better night vision, and don’t see halos, starbursts, glare and other visual disturbances that can occur with other lenses.”
EDF IOLs are often considered an alternative to multifocal designs for patients seeking spectacle independence but wary of optical disturbances. According to Joaquín Fernández, ESCRS Secretary, who was not involved in the study: “Eye surgery for cataracts or to correct vision is constantly evolving but, so far, the ‘holy grail’ of developing a lens that can give patients good vision over all distances without any visual disturbances has been elusive. These data from a ‘real world’ study are very encouraging and suggest that the available options are expanding to better meet the expectations of our patients.”
Source: ESCRS Congress 2025.
