[Clinical experience with a bifocal intraocular lens]

At cataract operation, the opaque cataractous lens is removed from the eye and is replaced by an artificial intraocular lens. Employing modern technology, development of a bifocal intraocular lens based on diffraction optic has now proved possible. The lens contains correction for distant vision and also for close work so that the patients may be independent of glasses. Sixty-two eyes with bifocal intraocular lenses were followed-up for approximately one year. The results are promising. 84% of the patients could read small print without corrective glasses. The accuracy by which the intraocular lens power can be calculated preoperatively and the surgical control of astigmatism in the eye are of decisive importance for the success of the lens.