Silicone intraocular lens resolution in air and in water.

The resolution efficiencies of 31 biconvex silicone intraocular lenses, ranging in power from 16.0 to 23.5 diopters, were tested in air and in water to see if a predictable relationship existed as previously reported with polymethylmethacrylate lenses. Resolution efficiency is defined as the percentage ratio of the actual resolving power of a lens to that of a perfect lens of the same focal length which is only limited in resolution by diffraction. The lenses ranged from 29% to 58% resolution efficiency in air. No lenses exhibiting multiple images were included. All 31 lenses achieved at least 73% resolution efficiency in water, and one lens achieved 82%. Based on these findings, a biconvex silicone lens that exceeds 30% resolution efficiency in air and does not produce multiple images can perform near its diffraction limit when implanted in the eye.