If you have a strong desire to not wear glasses, these lenses may be
right for you. Presbyopia is the eye's inability to change focus from
distance to near—the age-related condition that usually requires
reading glasses or bifocals between age 40 and 50. Several types of
multifocal lens implants offer the possibility of seeing well at more
than one distance without reading glasses or bifocals. Our surgeons
generally prefer the ReZoom lens by Advanced Medical Optics.
Multifocal lens implants cost significantly more than standard lens
implants and require additional exams, tests and follow-up care.
Insurance companies do not usually pay the extra costs of these
services but financing options are available.
Multifocal lens implants are not well suited for everyone and require
adaptive personalities to adjust to the vision they provide. They
allow most people to function most of the time without glasses.
But if you expect multifocal lens implants to provide perfect vision
without glasses, you will likely be disappointed.
Use the Multifocal Lens Implant Simulator on this page to see what vision might be like compared with standard single-focus lens implants. This simulation does not show night time vision effects (eg: halos around light sources) associated with multifocal lens implants, but it may be helpful to some patients.
- Greater independence from glasses for most activities
- Good reading vision in most situations
- Very good intermediate vision (computer distance)
- Excellent distance vision day and night
- Most people say they function well and are happy with the vision these lens implants provide
- Glare or halos will be noticed around lights at night
- May take weeks or months to adapt to vision
- Approximately 20% of people will need glasses for some tasks
- May slightly reduce the ability to see subtle differences in shades of gray
- Do not correct astigmatism
- May require fine-tuning with laser vision correction
- Evaluation and surgery cannot be done on the same day
- More exams and doctor visits are required
- Involve significant extra costs
Are Multifocal Lens Implants Right for you?
Review other lens implant choices...
