With a multifocal implant, the natural lens of the eye is replaced by an artificial lens. The latest generation of these lenses allows good vision of close-up as well as of distant objects, because they imitate the accommodation of the natural lens, in other words the variation of the refractive power. They differ from classical artificial lenses, which only allow good vision for a certain range of distances. Usually the power of such a lens was chosen so that the patient could see well at a distance but required glasses to see close-up objects clearly.

Multifocal implants are used mainly when myopia or hyperopia is combined with presbyopia.

Every eye becomes presbyopic after a certain time, whether it presents a visual defect or not. From about 40 years on, the elasticity of the crystalline lens, which could adjust to form a clear image of close up objects, decreases. The lens can no longer change its shape (accommodation) sufficiently. To read, the book or newspaper must be hold further and further away from the eyes (the arms get too short); myopic persons remove their glasses and look at nearby objects at a distance corresponding to their myopia.

In this operation, the lens of the eye is replaced by an artificial lens. Until now, classical, or monofocal, artificial lenses (with only one refraction power), allowed clear vision only at a certain distance. In most cases the power of the artificial lens was chosen so that the patient had good distance vision but had to wear glasses to see nearby objects clearly.

The latest generation of artificial lenses permits good vision near and far, since these lenses imitate the accommodation power of the natural lens of the eye (adaptation of the refractive power).

• Out-patient treatment of both eyes with an interval of one week between operations
• Unrestricted use of the eye already after a few days
• Rubbing has no negative effects
• The operation is reversible
• The material used for the lenses has been in clinical use for over 20 years and surgeons have implanted millions of lenses worldwide
• The material is extremely well tolerated and the long-term results are excellent