We cannot guarantee every patient will attain 20/20 vision after RLE surgery. The implant can be chosen to focus your eye at any distance you desire. While most choose to focus at distance, some prefer to see most clearly at near, particularly if they have always been myopic, or nearsighted.
At Fishkind, Bakewell, Maltzman & Hunter we perform these measurements with the Zeiss IOL-Master, the most advanced, accurate device for this purpose, which uses a laser to scan the eye in just seconds.
While these calculations are extremely accurate in most cases, the expected results are not always achieved. Most patients obtain vision good enough to drive without glasses.
Rarely, the post-operative refraction (eyeglass prescription) will be significantly different than expected. In these unusual cases, additional surgery, including removal and replacement of the lens implant, may be required to achieve the desired result. The appearance of an implant in the eye at the end of surgery is shown right.
The majority of lens implants inserted during cataract surgery are considered ‘monofocal,’ meaning that they focus light at only one location, usually in the distance. This means that reading glasses will be required for close-up tasks such as reading- without them near vision will be blurred. Another option is the ‘multifocal’ lens implant. Such implants allow for clear vision at distance, as well as good vision at mid-range and near. Each type of lens has specific advantages and disadvantages. You can discuss these options with one of our physicians during your evaluation.