There are normally two reasons why we remove the natural lens in your eye; either due to a cataract, where your lens has become cloudy, or for a Clear Lens Exchange to simply make you less dependent on glasses.  After removing the natural lens it may be replaced with a Single Focus or with a Multifocal Lens Implant.  After surgery with traditional single focus lenses most people experience very good vision at a single focal point or distance.  In most cases the single focus lens provides good distance vision, however we generally aim for a compromise to permit some vision at both distance and arms length (although neither will be perfect).  The majority of people receiving single focus lenses require reading glasses or bifocals for at least part time use. 

Multifocal lenses are designed to provide good vision at a range of different focal lengths (distances) for those patients who wish a greater degree of freedom from their glasses.  For many people who have worn glasses or contact lenses most of their lives, multifocal lenses can mean independence for the first time by providing the ability to see up close and at a distance simultaneously.  The multifocal lenses have uniquely proportioned visual zones that focus light differently, providing visual correction for near, midrange and distance.

At Vivid Laser Centre, we are using two of the latest generation of multifocal lenses that have produced the best results for our patients.  It is important to understand that even with multifocal lens implants vision will not be as “perfect” as it is for a young person who does not require glasses.  Whether we use single focus or multifocal lenses, the goal is to reduce the dependence on wearing glasses.  For most patients glasses are still be needed for specific tasks.

Multifocals Have Several Drawbacks or Trade-offs:

1. There is greater tendency to notice a slight haze or halos around lights at night.  This is something that is also noticed with contact lenses and single focus lenses, but to a lesser degree.  The latest generation of multifocal lenses produce much less difficulty with halos than earlier models and this is rarely a problem that persists.
2. The improvement you will see in contrast sensitivity is not as good as it would be if you got a customized single focus lens at Vivid Laser Centre
3. Multifocal lenses are much more expensive than single focus lenses.
4. Postoperatively other refractive procedures such as a laser treatment may still be needed to fine tune the result for optimal multifocal function.  This may involve some additional costs if further surgery is necessary.

In Summary:  Multifocal lenses will give you a much wider range of glasses-free vision and will allow us to aim for more perfect distance vision than we do with a single focus lens where we must compromise a little of the distance vision to permit a greater near or working range (I.e. seeing the floor, descending stairs, eating, working on a bench, etc.).

At vivid laser centre, we are currently using the Crystalens accommodating IOL as well as the Restore multifocal IOL.