This study compared integrating-sphere and double-beam methodologies for measuring the ultraviolet/visible transmission of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Transmission spectra of control IOLs and clinically explanted IOLs were measured with an optical spectrophotometer in two optical configurations: single-beam mode with integrating sphere detector and double-beam mode with photodiode detector. Effects of temperature and surface light scattering on transmittance were measured. Effects of lens power were measured and were modeled with ray-tracing software. Results indicated that transmission was consistent over a range of IOL powers when measured with the integrating-sphere configuration, but transmission gradually decreased with increasing IOL power (in a wavelength-dependent fashion) when measured with the double-beam configuration. Ray tracing indicated that the power-dependent loss in transmission was partially due to higher-powered IOLs spreading the light beam outside of the detector area. IOLs with surface light scattering had transmission spectra that differed between double-beam and integrating-sphere configurations in a power-dependent fashion. Temperature (ambient or physiological 35°C) did not affect transmission in the integrating-sphere configuration. Overall, results indicated that double-beam spectrophotometers may be useful for measuring transmittance of low-power IOLs, but an integrating-sphere configuration should be used to obtain accurate measurements of transmittance of higher-power IOLs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.