People who have had monofocal IOL implants after cataract surgery may need eyeglasses, as monofocal lenses only provide one focusing range: up close, intermediate, or distance.
Most people choose lenses for sharp distance vision, and then use reading glasses for close work or to correct their astigmatism.
To reduce dependence on eyeglasses, others choose different lenses for each eye. In a blended vision procedure, the dominant eye is often implanted with monofocal lens for distance vision while the non-dominant eye is replaced with lens for intermediate work.
In blended vision, very close-up work (like needlepoint) may still require eyeglasses.
Our New York cataract specialist provides thorough assessment of each eye and develops a treatment plan with you that best fits your goals and lifestyle. Surgery for blended vision may not apply to most people.
Blended vision entails compromise from both eyes, so only half of the patient population will likely make good candidates, both in terms of their medical history and expectations of surgical outcome.
With newer IOL technology, multifocal lenses allow you to see clearly at a distance and up close, as each eye is implanted with a lens with multifocal points. This means that you may no longer need eyeglasses for close work while at the same time see clearly from afar.
Studies suggest that a higher percent of patient population may be eligible for this procedure.