Multifocal Intraocular Lens exchange

Multifocal intraocular lenses are suitable for patients over 45 years of age with or without diagnosed cataract.

Usually during the cataract removal surgery a monofocal intraocular lens is implanted in the eye to provide clear vision in one distance only – either far or near. Modern refractive surgery allows to choose a multifocal intraocular lense that ensures clearer vision both in far and near distances. This allows the vision freedom wearing no glasses.

Standard or monofocal intraocular lenses are the most commonly used intraocular lenses in cataract treatment. They have one focal point and can improve vision at one distance: far or near. For the remaining distances, the patient may still need to use glasses. When light enters the eye through a monofocal lens, it is bent to a single focus point on the retina. Light cannot be focused from both distant and near objects at the same time with this type of lens. It means that a monofocal lens can correct vision at one distance, providing good vision for either near, or far distance.

Most patients choosing a monofocal lens want to have good distance vision, allowing to perform activities such as driving and watching TV. They usually need to use glasses to help with near vision tasks, such as reading, cooking and working on the computer.

Multifocal intraocular lenses have two or three focal points and restore vision at more than one distance, giving the patient a chance of being more independent of glasses. Multifocal lenses include bifocal and trifocal IOLs, with the latter representing the most advanced technology. Trifocal IOLs allow the highest level of independence from glasses, enabling patients to see clearly at all three distances without them.

Bifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) have two focal points, providing clear vision at two distances, far and near distances. Patients choose this type of lens over a monofocal IOL when they wish to see clearly at additional distance, and become less dependent on visual aids. Bifocal IOLs allow you to see clearly and perform tasks such as reading and driving without glasses. However, you may still need to wear glasses for certain tasks in the intermediate-range (approx. 80 cm), such as computer work and cooking.

The biggest advantage of bifocal lenses is the possibility to become less dependent on glasses not only for nearby activities, but also activities requiring good far vision, such as driving. IOLs with two focal points enable you to engage in activities such as reading, sewing and other work up close without needing glasses. It means that you no longer have to switch between different kinds of glasses e.g. reading glasses and glasses for computer work, which can give you more freedom in your daily life.

Trifocal lenses are the most advanced intraocular lenses (IOLs) available today, providing clear vision for close, intermediate and far distances, without gaps in between. They are designed to enable a high degree of independence from glasses for patients leading an active life and wishing to do without visual aids.Trifocal lenses work by bending the light entering the eye from near, intermediate and far distances, and focusing this light onto a single focal point on your retina. This enables you to focus on objects at different distances simultaneously, providing near, intermediate and distant vision through one lens. These modern IOL types reduce, or may eliminate, the need for glasses or contact lenses. Just like prescription glasses, your IOL will also be adjusted to your individual needs to give you the best vision possible.Unlike monofocal and bifocal lenses, trifocal lenses also provide comfortable intermediate vision, which is important for various daily activities, such as computer work.

With trifocal lenses, you can perform a range of activities in everyday life without glasses. This includes daily tasks such as:

The biggest advantage of trifocal intraocular lenses is the possibility to see clearly at all distances without glasses. As a result, you may no longer need to wear glasses when pursuing your daily activities.Trifocal IOLs allow for the treatment of pre-existing vision disorders, such as myopia or hyperopia. With a toric version of the trifocal lens, pre-existing astigmatism can be corrected as well. Trifocal intraocular lenses are also effective for treating age-related vision changes such as presbyopia, which affects nearly everyone after the age of 40. When you treat your cataract with a trifocal IOL you can take care of your presbyopia at the same time. In short, ideal candidates for trifocal lenses are patients who would like to be completely independent from glasses or contact lenses.

Toric lense have different powers in different meridians of the lens to correct the asymmetric power of the eye that is characteristic of astigmatism.

Advanced IOLs allow patients to become less dependent on glasses, and are a good option for patients with active lifestyles and for those wanting more freedom from glasses. Since what they offer are additional benefits for patients, cataract treatment with premium lenses is – depending on in which country you live – not covered by health insurance.  

Like with all innovative technologies, there are also a few things to consider when choosing a multifocal lens.

If you suffer from eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema, or macular degeneration, you may not be a suitable candidate for bifocal or trifocal lenses. These diseases, even in early stages, may be incompatible with premium intraocular lenses. If you suffer from one of these diseases, you can discuss alternative options with your ophthalmologist. One side effect connected with multifocal IOLs is a higher degree of visual disturbances and light phenomena (dysphotopsia), which are caused by the lens focusing light from multiple distances. These are normally perceived as:

Most people with multifocal lenses find these phenomena only mildly disturbing and get used to them over time. However, there is also a small group of patients who do not adapt to this type of IOL lenses well or are very bothered by the side effects that may occur. Another consequence of the multifocality is a slightly less perfect image quality. This is due to the lens splitting light from different distances on the retina. Therefore, patients have to compromise a little on the image quality to gain the multifocal effect.