IOL's for distance

Hello all,
Have been trying to decide on which lenses to have implanted in upcoming cataract surgery. Discussion of focal lengths for close and intermediate vision leave me wondering, at what distance can one expect a mono focal lens set for distance to begin to give good vision.
Thanks

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

If plano (zero myopia or hyperopia) you would be able to see something at arms length but that would not be much good for reading.  The non-dominant eye could be set for something like -0.75 to -1.50 to provide some near vision.  I always look very closely at where the patient is coming from with their refraction.  It really helps a lot in determining how to best make them happy.  If you love to work up close and read books for the last 20 years, then you will likely not be happy if that is taken away.  If you currently wear readers or bifocals for many years, it will be lot easier to please you, since you will much more easily adapt to wearing reading glasses especially,  If you are used to having perfect distance vision without glasses then you might not like being nearsighted in one eye or also might not like the reduction in contrast senstivity and increased glare with some of the multifocal lenses.

Michael Kutryb, MD