Monofocal implants

Jean-Charles Bauchau

Ophthalmologist

During cataract surgery, the natural crystalline lens, which has become opaque, is removed and replaced by an artificial lens known as an intraocular implant. The monofocal implant is the most commonly used. As its name suggests, it is designed to give clear vision at a single distance, usually from a distance.

In concrete terms, after a monofocal implant has been fitted, the distance vision becomes clear and stable, making it possible to watch television, drive or recognise faces without glasses. However, for close-up activities (reading, sewing, smartphones, etc.), a pair of glasses is still required.

For myopes, it is possible to retain a «residual myopia» that allows them to see up close without glasses. In this case, you will need a pair of glasses to see at a distance.

This type of implant is highly reliable and provides excellent visual results. It is quick and painless to insert, and the results are long-lasting: the implant remains in place for life. Patients particularly appreciate the quality of their distance vision, which is often clear and contrasted.

Monofocal implants are generally recommended when you want to focus on simplicity, safety and visual quality.For patients who have no contraindications, it is also possible to choose for "monovision" . In this case, one implant is calculated for distance vision and the other for intermediate vision, which can reduce dependence on glasses.

Implant calculations are based on mathematical formulae with a very low margin of error.

To sum up, the monofocal implant is a a tried and tested solution which ensures stable distance vision and is the reference choice in most cases.