Premium Cataract Surgery (Multifocal/Toric)
What are Premium Intraocular Lenses?
Premium IOLs are advanced lens implants that offer superior vision quality compared to standard lenses. They can correct multiple vision problems simultaneously, reducing or eliminating your need for glasses after surgery.
Types of Premium Lenses Available
- Multifocal Lenses: Provide clear vision at near, intermediate, and far distances by splitting light into different focal points.
- Toric Lenses: Specifically designed to correct astigmatism (an irregularly shaped cornea) for sharper vision at all distances.
- EDOF Lenses: Extended Depth of Focus lenses provide a continuous range of vision from distance to intermediate, with fewer night-time halos than multifocal lenses.
The Procedure
The surgical technique is identical to standard cataract surgery, but with the added benefit of a premium lens implant tailored to your visual needs and lifestyle. Extensive pre-operative measurements (biometry) are required to calculate the exact lens power and alignment.
Visual Adaptation
- Neuro-adaptation: Your brain needs time to adjust to the new way of seeing, especially with multifocal lenses.
- Halos/Glare: You may experience mild halos around lights at night initially; this typically improves over weeks to months.
- Patience: Full visual potential may take 1-3 months to be realized as your brain adapts.
Are you short-sighted? Understanding your lens choice
If you are myopic, this interactive guide explains what happens to your near vision after surgery and walks you through all your lens options.
Before your cataract surgery
Your near vision superpower — and what happens to it
If you are short-sighted (myopic), you have probably spent your whole life being able to read, use your phone, and do close-up tasks without glasses — even when you cannot see anything clearly at distance.
Because your eye is longer than average, light from close objects naturally focuses on your retina without any effort. You can read a menu, thread a needle, or check your phone in the dark without reaching for glasses. Many short-sighted people do not realise how unusual — and useful — this ability is.
Cataract surgery removes your cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a new artificial lens implant (IOL). The IOL does not change shape. It is fixed at whatever focus point is chosen at the time of surgery.
If your new lens is set to give you clear distance vision (emmetropia), your natural ability to read without glasses will be gone from the moment the surgery is complete. It does not come back. The brain cannot adapt. You will need reading glasses for everything up close — for the rest of your life.
This is not a complication. It is the expected, intended result of the surgery. But many patients are not prepared for it emotionally, even when they have signed the consent form.
Still have questions?
Our AI assistant is trained on CES Medical's specific lens options and clinical guidelines. Ask any questions you have about your choices.
NHS vs Private Care
- Free at the point of use
- Standard waiting times apply
- Standard monofocal lenses for cataract surgery
- Consultant-led care, but you may see different doctors
- No waiting lists
- Choose your preferred consultant
- Access to premium multifocal and toric lenses
- Flexible appointment times
Duration
15-20 mins
Anaesthetic
Local (Drops)
Initial Recovery
1-3 months (Neuro-adaptation)
Having this procedure?
View the complete surgical journey, including pre-op preparation and post-op care instructions.
View Surgical Journey