If you need cataract surgery and you want the greatest freedom from eyeglasses after surgery, you might want to consider multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) to expand your range of clear vision.

In the past, the primary goal of cataract surgery was to restore a person's vision for driving, watching television, and other distance vision tasks. To see clearly up close, a person would need to wear bifocalsor reading glasses after cataract removal to correct the inevitable post-surgical presbyopia. But today, cataract patients have the choice of multifocal IOLs that can correct vision far away, up close and all distances in between.

These advanced presbyopia-correcting IOLs are in many ways similar to bifocal and multifocal contact lenses. And because multifocal IOLs are implanted inside the eye, they don't require any care and routine replacement like contact lenses do. Many patients who choose multifocal intraocular lenses find they can be glasses-free or may only need reading glasses occasionally for reading small print after cataract surgery.

Good Candidates for Multifocal IOLs

Perhaps the most important factor in determining if you are a good candidate for multifocal IOLs is your willingness to accept some compromise in the clarity of your distance vision for the convenience of being less dependent on computer glasses and/or reading glasses after cataract surgery.

If you're not willing to accept this type of compromise, or your occupation requires that you have the best possible distance vision at all times or excellent night vision — for example, if you are a pilot or someone who spends a lot of time driving in unfamiliar areas at night — then you probably are not a good candidate for multifocal IOLs. You may be better served with standard monofocal IOLs for optimal distance vision — even though this means you will need bifocals, progressive lenses or reading glasses to see clearly up close.

Also, if you have a pre-existing visual condition other than cataracts that affects your vision in one or both eyes (macular degeneration, for example), you typically will be happier with standard monofocal IOLs rather than multifocal IOLs, which require good visual capability in both eyes for best results.

When you are seen by your surgeon, Dr. Gregory Scimeca, for your cataract consultation, he will evaluate the health of your eyes during your comprehensive eye exam prior to surgery to determine if you have any non-cataract-related eye problems that may affect your vision after cataract surgery. If Dr. Scimeca feels you are a candidate for premium IOLs, you will be given extensive information regarding the different lens options that are available to you.

To schedule a consultation for cataract extraction and to discuss premium IOLs, please contact us.