Does one need glasses after IOL surgery?

The improvement in quality of life after cataract surgery is extraordinary, and most patients are not dependent on their distance glasses for daily activities. Some patients however, may need glasses of small plus or minus power to obtain the best possible distance vision.

IOL power calculations are done by trained personnel using a computerized ultrasound biometer for measuring the eye before the operation, and every endeavor is made so as to get very minimal post-operative power in the distance glasses. A new device called the IOLMaster is now available which is capable of very accurate measurement of the eye and calculation of the IOL power. However, since these calculations are based on certain theoretical formulae, it will vary on a person-to-person basis, and some people may have a slightly larger postoperative refraction than others. Unlike the natural human lens, which can change its shape to focus for various distances, the IOL, since it is made of plastic, cannot do so. Hence, majority of patients undergoing routine phacoemulsification with IOL implantation, typically require reading glasses after cataract surgery.