A new type of artificial eye lens may help many people see clearly at different distances without needing glasses after surgery.
The lens was designed for people having cataract surgery or vision correction surgery, and researchers say the results so far are very encouraging.
The research was presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). Scientists tested the lens on about 200 patients across 17 medical centers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
The lens is called TECNIS PureSEE, and it belongs to a newer group of lenses known as extended depth of field, or EDF, lenses.
As people grow older, changes inside the eyes make it harder to focus on nearby objects. This common condition is called presbyopia. Many people first notice it when they begin holding books, menus, or phones farther away to read clearly.
Cataracts are another common problem linked with aging. Cataracts happen when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing blurry vision, glare, and difficulty seeing at night. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one.
For many years, most artificial lenses used in cataract surgery were monofocal lenses. These lenses usually provide clear vision at one distance only, often far away. This means many patients still need glasses for reading or close work. Later, multifocal lenses were developed to help people see at more than one distance.
However, some patients using these lenses experience unwanted side effects such as halos, glare, or starburst patterns around lights at night. These effects can sometimes make night driving uncomfortable.
EDF lenses were developed to try to solve some of these problems. Instead of creating several separate focus points, they stretch the focus range to give smoother vision over different distances.
This can improve vision for activities such as using computers, cooking, shopping, or reading large text. However, many EDF lenses still do not provide perfect close-up vision, and some people may still need reading glasses.
The TECNIS PureSEE lens works differently from many older designs. According to the researchers, it uses smooth curves instead of ring-like structures to focus light entering the eye. Because of this smoother design, patients may experience fewer visual problems at night.
The study carefully examined how well patients could see after receiving the new lens. Researchers checked distance vision, intermediate vision, and near vision.
Distance vision includes things like driving or watching television. Intermediate vision is important for computer work and many daily tasks done at arm’s length. Near vision includes reading books, newspapers, or messages on a phone.
The results showed that most patients could see very well without glasses after surgery. Nearly all patients achieved clear distance and intermediate vision without needing extra help from glasses. Many patients could also read comfortably without glasses.
Around 96% of patients said they rarely or never needed glasses for distance vision. About 93% said they rarely or never needed glasses for intermediate tasks, while 62% said the same for near vision.
Patient satisfaction was also very high. Around 96% of people were satisfied with their distance vision, 94% were happy with their intermediate vision, and 73% were satisfied with their near vision. Almost all participants said they would recommend the lens to family members or friends.
Professor Oliver Findl, who presented the findings, said the lens provided excellent distance and intermediate vision along with useful near vision. He also explained that patients did not commonly report disturbing night vision effects such as glare, halos, or starbursts, which are problems often linked with some multifocal lenses.
Another eye specialist, Dr. Joaquín Fernández, who was not directly involved in the study, said the results look very promising.
He explained that doctors are still searching for the ideal artificial lens that can provide natural vision at all distances without unwanted side effects. While no lens is perfect yet, he believes this new design gives patients another strong option.
The researchers believe this lens may become increasingly popular in the future because it balances clear vision with comfort.
Many people today want more independence from glasses after surgery, especially as people remain active longer into older age. Good intermediate vision is particularly important now because many daily activities involve computers, tablets, phones, and other digital devices.
The study also highlights how eye surgery technology continues to improve. Cataract surgery is already one of the most common and successful operations in the world. Millions of people have the procedure every year. Better artificial lenses may continue improving quality of life by helping people see more naturally after surgery.
Although more research is still needed, the findings suggest the TECNIS PureSEE lens is safe, effective, and well accepted by patients.
It may offer clearer vision across different distances while reducing some of the side effects that can occur with older lens designs. For many people hoping to reduce their need for glasses after surgery, this new lens could become an attractive option in the years ahead.
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