Trifocal or EDOF? Which Lens Suits You for Lens Replacement

Transparency note: This article is published by Mapa Health, a patient coordinator based in Istanbul and authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (licence AK-0456). It is for information, has a commercial background and does not replace advice from an ophthalmologist.

Quick answer: Trifocal or EDOF depends mainly on how important reading without glasses is to you and how much you drive at night. Trifocal lenses cover distance, intermediate and near vision, but cause halos more often, especially in the first months. EDOF lenses give sharp vision for distance and screen work and usually cause fewer halos, but you often need reading glasses for small print. Monofocal lenses give sharp vision at one distance and the best night vision. The partner clinic of Mapa Health uses the Alcon PanOptix trifocal lens, and the PanOptix Toric for astigmatism.

At a glance

Monofocal lens: one sharp distance, usually far, very few halos, reading glasses needed.

EDOF lens: distance and intermediate vision up to about screen distance, fewer halos than trifocal, reading glasses often needed for small print.

Trifocal lens: distance, intermediate and near vision, most patients read without glasses, halos at night are common, especially at first.

Toric lens: also corrects astigmatism, available as a version of all three types.

At Mapa Health: Alcon PanOptix and PanOptix Toric, package from £2,700 for both eyes, about 4 days in Istanbul.

Coordinator: Mapa Health, licence AK-0456, Trustpilot 4.5 out of 5 from 108 verified reviews, more than 500 patients supported since 2020.

How the three lens types work

In lens replacement, the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. Which artificial lens is used decides at which distances you will see sharply without glasses afterwards.

A monofocal lens has a single focal point. It is usually set for distance. You need glasses for the screen and for reading. In return, the image is very clear, even at night.

An EDOF lens (Extended Depth of Focus) stretches the sharp range from distance into intermediate vision. That is often enough for the dashboard, a laptop or cooking. Well-known models include the Alcon Vivity and the Johnson & Johnson Tecnis Symfony.

A trifocal lens splits incoming light into three focal points: distance, intermediate and near. The Alcon PanOptix is designed for a reading distance of about 40 cm and an intermediate distance of about 60 cm, roughly the distance to a computer screen.

Halos and night vision: the honest trade-off

Every lens that covers several distances splits the light. The price for this is visual side effects: halos around headlights and street lamps, and sometimes slightly reduced contrast at dusk.

With trifocal lenses, many patients notice these halos in the first weeks. Over the following months the brain learns to filter them out. For most people they become much weaker, but they do not disappear completely for everyone. A review by the Cochrane Collaboration found that trifocal lenses perform better for near vision than EDOF lenses, while EDOF lenses tend to cause fewer halos. The evidence on this is still limited.

In everyday terms: if you drive a lot in the evening and are sensitive to glare, raise this point openly with the eye doctor. If, on the other hand, living without reading glasses matters most to you, you will usually accept the halos.

PanOptix, Synergy, AT LISA tri and Vivity compared

Several proven premium lenses are available. The Alcon PanOptix is one of the most widely used trifocal lenses in the world. The Johnson & Johnson Tecnis Synergy combines trifocal and EDOF properties and offers a particularly continuous range of focus. The Zeiss AT LISA tri is an established trifocal lens from a German manufacturer. The Alcon Vivity is an EDOF lens that does not split the light and therefore usually causes fewer halos.

None of these lenses is objectively the best. Each has strengths in a different area. To be clear: the partner clinic of Mapa Health works with the Alcon PanOptix, and with the PanOptix Toric for astigmatism. We do not offer EDOF or monofocal lenses as a package. If one of these lenses suits your eyes and your daily life better, we tell you before you book.

Which lens suits which lifestyle

You read a lot, work at a screen and want to manage without glasses as far as possible: this is where the trifocal lens plays to its strengths. Many patients read newspapers, phones and menus without glasses afterwards.

You drive at night for work or very often: an EDOF or monofocal lens may suit you better. Reading glasses for small print are then usually the smaller compromise.

You work in a job with very high demands on contrast and night vision, for example as a pilot: check with your employer or the relevant authority which lenses are accepted before you decide.

You mainly want sharp distance vision and are happy to read with glasses anyway: a monofocal lens is the simplest solution with the best contrast.

Toric lenses for astigmatism

Astigmatism can be corrected at the same time with a toric lens. Without this correction the image stays blurred despite a premium lens, especially with multifocal lenses. Whether you need a toric lens is shown by the corneal measurement at the preliminary examination. At Mapa Health the PanOptix Toric is then used. Additional costs may apply, which you receive in writing before you travel.

Who a trifocal lens is not suitable for

An honest coordinator also says when a trifocal lens is not suitable.

With diseases of the retina, such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinal disease, a multifocal lens is generally not used. The divided light makes vision even worse in that case.

With advanced glaucoma or a very irregular cornea, for example keratoconus, eye doctors usually advise against it.

After previous laser treatment of the cornea, calculating the lens power is more difficult. This does not rule out a trifocal lens, but it requires particularly careful measurements.

Very dry eyes are treated first. An unstable tear film distorts the measurement and the result.

If you are very sensitive to glare or expect a perfect image in every lighting situation, a trifocal lens will often not make you happy.

The myth "With a trifocal lens you will never need glasses again"

Many providers advertise the promise that you will never need glasses again after lens replacement. In daily life this is actually true for many patients with a trifocal lens. For very small print in poor light, long drives at night or fine handwork, however, some still reach for glasses.

A reputable provider therefore does not promise a specific visual acuity. Every eye heals a little differently, and the brain needs weeks to months to adapt to the new lens.

Be just as careful with very low prices. Always ask for the manufacturer and model of the lens. At Mapa Health both are stated in the written plan before you travel.

How the lens choice works at Mapa Health

Mapa Health is not an eye doctor but a coordinator authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (licence AK-0456). Send us your current glasses prescription for distance and near, your age and a short note on how you use your eyes in daily life at info@mapahealth.com. This allows an initial assessment of whether the PanOptix suits you in principle.

The final decision is made at the preliminary examination in the partner clinic in Istanbul. Among other things, the cornea, eye length, retina and tear film are measured. If the findings speak against a trifocal lens, the eye doctor explains the reasons. You can check the reviews on Trustpilot yourself beforehand. How the first days and weeks after the procedure go is described in the article Lens Replacement Recovery: Timeline and When You Can Fly Home. Whether laser or lens replacement suits you better over 40 is compared in the article Over 40: Laser Eye Surgery or Lens Replacement? An Honest Comparison. Prices, process and package services can be found on our page about lens replacement in Turkey.

About the author

Tayfun Com is the founder of Mapa Health, the patient coordinator in Istanbul authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (licence AK-0456). Since 2020, the Mapa Health team has supported more than 500 international patients.

This article is for information only and does not replace a personal ophthalmological examination.