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Without Glasses, but Not Without Thought: The Right Lens Is the Key to Sharp Vision

Having sharp vision without glasses after surgery is no longer a privilege of just a few. Thanks to modern intraocular lenses, it has become a reality for thousands of patients. However, not every lens is suitable for everyone — and choosing the right one is the key to long-term satisfaction. How well a patient will see after the procedure depends not only on the medical findings but also on their lifestyle, profession, and expectations.

Lens selection is always discussed before cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange, when a person wishes to be free from glasses. At that stage, the doctor recommends — based on an examination and a detailed conversation — which type of lens will best suit the patient’s individual needs. The right lens affects not only the course of the surgery itself but, above all, the patient’s everyday life afterwards and their satisfaction with the quality of vision. That’s why choosing the most suitable solution always combines expert assessment with an open discussion between the doctor and the patient.

Choosing a Lens as an Individual Decision

The selection of an intraocular lens is always an individual decision. The fundamental condition is that the eye must otherwise be healthy. Therefore, a comprehensive preoperative examination and all necessary measurements play an essential role. This is followed by a very important discussion with the patient about their lifestyle, profession, and expectations, based on which the most suitable solution is chosen.

“For me, the examination itself is just as important as the conversation with the patient about their lifestyle, profession, and expectations. A professional driver, for example, has different needs — they care about sharp distance vision, good contrast, and minimal glare when driving at night. On the other hand, someone who spends most of the day reading or doing fine manual work will appreciate sharp near vision without glasses. It’s precisely thanks to this information that we can recommend the lens best suited to the patient’s lifestyle,” explains Andrea Janeková, MD, FEBO, FEBOS-CR, Head Doctor of the Cataract, Refractive, and Vitreoretinal Surgery Centre at Eye Centre Prague.

Different Lenses for Different Needs

Modern intraocular lenses allow sharp vision at multiple distances, but each type works a little differently.

Trifocal Intraocular Lenses

They provide clear vision at near, intermediate, and far distances. They are ideal for patients who need high-quality vision at all distances — those who read a lot, work with documents, or perform tasks requiring detailed vision, while also wanting to see clearly at a distance.

EDOF Lenses (Extended Depth of Focus)

These lenses provide an extended depth of focus, offering high-quality vision at distance, intermediate range, and what is known as functional near vision. They are well suited for people who spend time working on a computer, driving, or engaging in sports. An additional advantage is a shorter adaptation period and fewer visual phenomena such as halos or glare during night vision.

“Of course, there is currently no method that can restore the vision of a healthy twenty-year-old eye. Every solution therefore comes with certain compromises. For example, trifocal lenses may cause more light scatter when driving at night, so we do not recommend them for professional drivers. For those, EDOF lenses are a better option — although they are not ideal for people who enjoy reading. They allow so-called functional near vision, meaning you can read larger print or short text, but glasses are still needed for longer reading sessions. However, when a person chooses a lens type that matches their needs and lifestyle, they are usually thrilled with their new vision and enjoy the comfort of sharp sight at all distances, even in later life,” explains Dr. Andrea Janeková.

Neuroadaptation as a Natural Part of the Process

After the implantation of a new intraocular lens, the brain needs time to gradually adjust to the change. This process is called neuroadaptation, and it is completely natural — for some people it takes just a few days, while for others it may take several weeks or even months. During this period, a person may notice slight reflections or light halos, or experience a different sense of contrast. These effects gradually fade as the brain learns to interpret the new visual information correctly.

“Some patients adapt immediately — especially those who previously had high dioptres or needed glasses for both distance and near vision. They are often thrilled just a short time after surgery. For others, it may take longer, but most people adjust to their new vision very well,” explains Dr. Andrea Janeková.

Choosing the right lens makes the entire adaptation process easier and shorter.

Satisfaction Begins with the Right Choice

Modern intraocular lenses today can provide comfortable, glasses-free vision in virtually all everyday situations. However, the key lies in choosing the right lens — one that takes into account the health of the eyes, examination results, as well as each person’s individual needs and expectations.

An open conversation with the doctor is therefore just as important as the surgery itself. When a person chooses a lens that matches their lifestyle, the result is not only sharp vision but also greater freedom and overall satisfaction in daily life.