myopic and don't want to give up my near vision

I am -7 in left eye and -6.75 in right.  I have a ripe cataract in left eye and beginnings of one in right eye.
My doctor wants to correct me for distance in both eyes but after researching have decided I'd prefer to have
my near  and intermediate vision if possible.  I like to read, cook, do crosswords, surf the internet.
I only drive for work and try to never drive at night.  I feel the things I do most require near /intermediate vision.  Is it possible to get these results with a ,monofocial iol (tecnis lense) and what would the ideal correction be if I had both eyes done?  Are people usually satisfied with going this route?  I'm 49 years old and in good health except for the cataract.  Is there a reason opthalmologists prefer to correct for distance?  Is there a problem with iol's and getting good near vision?  I'd appreciate any personal or professional information on topic.
Thanks,

[Restorsucess]

I'm not a professional, but I was also very myopic.  I was ok reading with distance glasses until myopia set in. Still, my reading vision was good if I took the glasses off.  It became a big hassel... especially trying to watch the news and read the paper in the morning.  I opted for decided on clear lens replacement.  I have restor +3.  All vision is great, and I have almost no unusal problems at night.  Little fuzz balling with headlights in distance... that's it.  However FINE print that's black on yellow or black on red requires me to move it into a bit more light.  So, nothing for night problems, just a bit in dim light with little, colored print.  In an artical I saw, it was thought that the tecnis multifocal is better with dim light, but maybe not with night distance (halos?), as its diffractive part goes all the way to the edge.  More halos at night with more light distribution going to near vision? Restor doesn't.  It has a refractive part on the edge for large puple distance vision (thus why near dim is sacrificed....). I think both lenses are about the same for distance and near.  I'm 20/20 near and far, and thought I was 20/25 for intermediate, but I think that's actually improved as I find I can see perfectly clear now (around 3 ft) that was less clear before.

Anyway, maybe tecnis multifocal would suit you, as you like your near vision, and it's good with that in dim light too.  I don't know about night driving with it (as I don't have them....) but you say you don't drive much at night.  My multifocal has excelent intermediate vision.  I can't say anything about tecnis... I don't have it.  Restor fits my life... I'd rather move something into more light than have awful halos or bad night vision for night driving.

Monovision would not have worked for me.  I think it might be better for people who use near and distance the most.  I work on a computer a lot.... Intermediate.

I'd have to say, before my lens replacement, I think my reading vision without distance glasses was better for dim light.  But in regular light, my Restors rival it.  I do not feel I've "lost" anything, as I gained SO much obtaining 20/20, crisp, clear, distance vision.

Just wanted to give you a perspective......  

If multifocals aren't for you, I'm sure you can be targeted for near vision, and wear glasses for distance.  With whatever you choose, choose to the best of your ability with all info you can get, and I hope the outcome is what you expect.  Good luck!

[Restorsucess]

I typo'd... I was ok reading with distance glasses until PRESBYOPIA set in.  Sorry!  Eyes are great, brain need some work... LOL!