Monofocal lens is an IOL, which will provide only one, fixed distance vision without use of glasses. Normally, monofocal lenses are calculated for far vision, and for demanding intermediate and any near tasks glasses will be needed. Based on patient desire, monofocal lens might be calculated for near vision, and in this case far vision glasses will be required.
Near vision
Intermediate vision
Far vision
Know this
key Monofocal IOL features
Quality of vision with monofocal lens depends on material type and quality, optics asphericity type and visible light filter.
IOL materials: might be either hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Both materials are good, but has basic differences.
Hydrophilic lenses might be injected via smaller incision, but have more tendency for secondary cataract.
Hyprophobic materials have less secondary cataract probability, but generally need slightly larger incision.
However, both lenses types are injected via small and safe incision of less than 2.4mm.
Material quality: normally is described in terms of chromatic aberration and represented via so called ABBE number. The higher ABBE number is, the smaller amount of chromatic aberration lens produces and thus creates better image quality.
Optics type: lens type might have positive spherical aberrations, zero shperical aberrations and negative spherical aberration.
Positive spherical aberration of the lens reduces image quality in dim light conditions.
Zero spherical aberration of the lens provides better image quality.
Negative spherical aberration of the lens provides maximum image quality.
Zero and Negative type of lenses are called "aspherical", however particular asphericity type may influence image quality in different way, based on patient cornea aberrations or anatomical eye specific.
Light filters: any intraocular lens has UV (ultra violet) light filter built in.
Some IOLs have visible light filters. Different light filters has different intensity and color, but generally they are yellow and that type of lenses might be not suitable for peoples, who need maximum amount of light available during night-time or precise color reproduction.