Spectrophotometric measurements indicated that polymethyl methacrylate intraocular lenses do not mimic the crystalline lens in absorption of shortwave visible light and near-UV light. These wavelengths are particularly effective in producing photochemical damage to the retina. Scotopic spectral sensitivity functions directly confirmed that patients with intraocular lens implants are much more sensitive than normal to these wavelengths (by as much as a factor of 46 at 380 nm).