Tinting of Acrysof Toric IOL's and Astronomy

[MrAstro]

I'm about to have some implants put in and I'm a keen amateur astronomer who enjoys observing faint galaxies at the bounds of dark adapted vision using averted vision. My vision pre-operation is +6.5 with some astigmatism and +8 with reading glasses (hyperopic)

I note that Acrysof Toric IOL's seem to be tinted. The best info I could find suggest that it cuts about 30% of blue light.

This worries me because I don't want to reduce the light that reaches my dark adapted eyes at all - in fact the whole point of increased aperture on astronomical telescopes is to maximise light and ensure every photon reaches your eye.

Can you allay my fears about the tinting at all - or should I worry about it and intervene in terms of the choice of lens that my refractive surgeon would otherwise implant.

I also note the lens is 6mm - I always thought a dark adapted pupil could be up to 7mm in size.

I'm currently 43 years old.

[MrAstro]

I wasn't worried about colour perception per se. I was worried about how tinting affects the eyes low light contrast sensitivity in what I believe is termed scotopic conditions. Astronmers use averted vision which mostly activates the rods (don't cite me on that - I'm no expert).

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[MrAstro]

I've done some research and it does suggest possible reduced contrast in low light - in the blue end of the spectrum - so I'm now in a quandary about whether to pull out of the surgery unless the surgeon can find me an equivalent lens that isn't blue blocking.

I've got a huge investment in visual astronomy equipment. Some of my lenses cost $1k alone and I spent a year building a 16" newtonian reflector - so I'd be gutted to find out that I lost sensitivity on the faint extended astronomical objects rendering my equipment useless.

I bet the studies with regards to patient satisfaction don't have many astronomers working in scotopic conditions - it's not simply walking around at night on a lit street.

[MrAstro]

I thought it might help to show some citations rather than just merely saying 'I found some references on the subject'

http://www.nick-lane.net/blue%20blockers.pdf

http://www.eyeworld.org/article.php?sid=2122&strict=&morphologic=&query=

http://www.amo-romania.com/Document_Files/HealthyBlueLight_87rjgj.pdf

[MrAstro]

And another reference to the issues I'm referring to. I hope the surgeons don't have a learning curve with other products or are resistant to obtaining different  lenses due to vendor relationships or suchlike.

http://www.eyeworld.org/article.php?sid=2123&strict=&morphologic=&query=

[MrAstro]

Thanks Jodie,

I know it probably isn't an issue for most people but it annoys me that Alcon effectively cripple their prosthetics. It's really sad and depressing you can't get them without the tint ie at least get a choice in the matter.

From what I've read I would agree with your analysis that in other respects they are the best on the market. I just wish you could order them with this accursed tint - it seems to be a solution in search of a problem - given the lack of hard evidence on the benefits.