Smart (Trifocal) Lenses for Difficulty Seeing Near
After the age of forty, the lens inside the eye loses its elasticity and can no longer focus when we look at near objects. Difficulty seeing near after forty is called “presbyopia”.
After the age of forty, the lens inside the eye loses its elasticity and can no longer focus when we look at near objects. Difficulty seeing near after forty is called “presbyopia”.
What treatment methods are available for people who do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses?
People who do not want to wear glasses or lenses can have trifocal intraocular lens treatment to correct their near vision. Trifocal intraocular lenses allow distance, intermediate and near vision without glasses. They are also known as “smart lenses”.
Can people with smart lenses develop cataract later?
Cataract is the lens inside the eye losing its transparency. In smart lens surgery we remove the person’s own lens and replace it with an artificial lens, so we also remove the possibility of the person developing cataract in the future.
Can everyone have smart lens surgery?
People over forty who wear both distance and reading glasses are candidates for this surgery. However, detailed eye tests are done before smart lens surgery, and these tests determine whether the eye is suitable for a trifocal lens. The measurements take about 1–1.5 hours.
What tests are done?
The measurements taken are:
- Computerised measurement of the prescription
- Measuring vision with and without glasses
- Determining the prescription
- Biomicroscopy: examination of the eye under a microscope
- Corneal tomography (mapping of the cornea)
- Measurement of contrast sensitivity
- Pachymetry: measuring corneal thickness
- Tonometry: measuring the pressure inside the eye
- Pupillometry: measuring the size of the pupil
- Dilated fundus examination: examining the retina (nerve layer) of the eye with the pupil dilated
- Calculation of the intraocular lens power
- Examination of the endothelial layer of the cornea (specular microscopy)
- Tomography of the centre of vision (the macula)
- Measurement of the kappa and alpha angles
How long does the operation take?
Smart lens surgery is not performed on both eyes in the same session. One eye is operated on first and the other on another day, with at least 3 days, preferably a week, between the two eyes. The operation takes 15–20 minutes per eye.
What is the success rate of the treatment?
Out of every 100 people who have smart lens surgery, 90 can see clearly far and near without glasses, while 10 may continue to need low-power glasses. If some prescription remains in the eye, we can also remove it with laser after 3 months.
Have your eyes assessed
Send your prescription history, previous eye reports and any corneal imaging for an individual assessment — in person in İstanbul or over video.
This article is for general information only and does not replace a medical examination or personalised medical advice.