When we remove a cataract we replace it with an artificial lens, many patients ask us if we can help eliminate their need for glasses, and typically, we can do that. Our first priority is usually to give you good distance vision.

Some patients are also interested in seeing well up close after surgery without glasses. To achieve that we have to use special premium implant lenses that can focus distance and near.

One very effective way to achieve good distance and near vision is to use two different styles of premium implant lenses. Frequently, an accommodating lens is placed in the dominant eye. Accommodating lenses have the unique ability to shift their focus from distance to near. But accommodating lenses sometimes have difficulty focusing very, very close. And that’s why in the non-dominant eye we will use a multifocal implant lens, which sees extremely well here.

The effect is that you have two eyes set for distance and you have two eyes set for near, but the near zones are intentionally offset, so that at the extreme near one eye predominates, and at the intermediate range the other eye predominates. Combining the two types of lenses gives the best of both worlds, and typically allows good vision at distance, intermediate, and near. Most patients tell us after surgery that their eyes function in a completely natural feeling fashion.

It’s important to note that no matter how carefully your surgeon measures you, some patients do not achieve the planned target after surgery. All artificial lenses have the ability to produce subtle changes in your night vision, especially in the first few months after surgery. Typically, patients report that their night vision is significantly improved compared to the way it was with a cataract. But in the early postoperative period, some patients will report rings around lights at night, streaks or other phenomenon.

For patients who are interested in seeing well without glasses, our first priority is usually to give you good distance vision. To achieve that, we need to correct your astigmatism. That might be done with a special implant lens, or perhaps special incisions in the cornea. Sometimes a combination of procedures is necessary. For many patients, this provides good distance vision without the need for glasses.

All insurance companies and Medicare view these premium implant lenses as optional devices, and therefore they are not covered by insurance. And while your insurance coverage might take care of the vast majority or perhaps even all the cost of cataract surgery, use of these premium lenses, unfortunately, is not covered.

It simply may not be possible to eliminate the need for glasses in all situations at all viewing distances under all lighting conditions. However, the combination of an accommodating lens plus a multifocal is one of the most effective methods to achieve a glasses-free lifestyle.