Will I Need Glasses After Cataract Surgery?

In this video, Dr. Keith Skolnick of Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute explains whether patients will need glasses after cataract surgery and how different intraocular lens options impact vision. He discusses monofocal lenses, which are set for a single distance, as well as monovision, where one eye is corrected for near and the other for distance. He also reviews premium options like multifocal and extended depth-of-focus lenses, which can significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses. This overview helps patients understand their choices and set realistic expectations for vision after cataract surgery.

Good afternoon, I’m Dr. Keith Skolnick, one of the ophthalmologists at the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute. I specialize in cataract surgery.

One of the most common questions I get regarding cataract surgery is whether the patient will need glasses after cataract surgery. With cataract surgery, I am simply replacing your lens. The natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy—that’s what a cataract is—and I replace it with a new lens.

The new lens is called an intraocular lens. It’s an artificial lens, and there are different types of lenses. The most basic or standard type is called a monofocal lens, or single-focus lens. If you choose to have cataract surgery with a monofocal lens, it is set for one distance. You can choose distance, near, or even one eye for distance and one eye for near, which is called monovision.

If you choose distance only with a monofocal lens, you’ll primarily need reading glasses. If you choose near only, you’ll be able to see up close without glasses but will need glasses for distance. If you’re someone who can tolerate or is used to monovision—where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near—you can significantly reduce your dependence on glasses. Generally, I only recommend monovision for patients who have already experienced it, typically with contact lenses.

There is another option for intraocular lenses: a multifocal lens or an extended depth-of-focus lens. These are considered premium lenses—an upgrade from the standard lens. With this choice, you can significantly reduce your dependence on glasses, and a high percentage of patients who choose this option don’t need glasses at all.

A multifocal lens works by creating two or three focal points as light enters the eye and is refracted through the lens, allowing you to see both at a distance and read. About 80 to 90 percent of patients who choose a multifocal lens will not need glasses. Thank you.