I had Symfony multifocal lenses installed about 6 yrs ago. Total cost for both eyes on Long Island was over $8000. It was like magic, essentially turned the clock back about 60 yrs. I wish I could do this to other parts of my body. I don't need glasses for reading or distance, essentially 20/20 in both eyes. The lenses were prescribed so that one is slightly better for distance and the other is slightly better for up-close, but both give me 20/20 in each eye. I do wear inexpensive reading glasses for very small print and under some low light situations, but I go days to weeks without ever needing them. I actually have a collection of varied strength readers that I use for close up work on electronics, etc, like wearing a magnifying glass. As mentioned by others, multifocal lenses will produce a concentric circle light scattering from point sources at night. It's sharp and not fuzzy like cataracts but not everyone adjusts to it. About 50 % of those that receive artificial lenses will benefit from a procedure called a capsulotomy. Generally, the rear lens capsule is not removed during lens insertion, and this capsule my fog over some time after surgery. If you believe your vision is deteriorating months to years after the lens insertion, this may be the cause. One way you'll notice this is that road signs and license plates may not be as crisp as they were immediately after getting the lenses. Capsulotomy is a simple doctor's office procedure using a laser to poke some holes into the rear capsule. It may create some additional floaters that usually settle out. My wife and I had it done a couple years after the initial surgery, and it made a big difference.

If it’s that much go for the Cadillac cataract which is the lens that they can modify 3 times over a period of time to let them adjust to your body before they set the cataracts configuration for good. I know a couple of friends that had this done for a little bit more than what you are paying for a cheaper cataract.

I regret mine every damn day.

I received the Clareon PanOptix Toric IOL in January 2024 when I still lived in Houston at a cost of $5,000 per eye. The toric lens corrected much of the astigmatism that I had and the lens also corrects nearsightedness as well as distance. Without a doubt, the best decision that I made - completely satisfied. Also, the laser process they use now has the ability to help re-shape the eye to help with the astigmatism.

A some others have pointed out, there are some halos when driving at night, but nothing intolerable. In my particular case, the halos aren't substantially different from that which I experienced with soft contact lenses.

Spouse was born with Mono eyesight. One near one far, since it was recommended by both of our ophthalmologists when cataract is bad replace with lens to keep mono sight consistent.

Everything was fine before cataract surgery.
Get a second opinion to make sure you really need surgery.
Find a doctor with the highest success/satisfaction rating.
Your vision is nothing to be casual with.
Like the words in the song, "you don't know what you've got till it's gone."
Best of luck.

I carry 4 pairs of glasses with me -- reading, intermediate, distance, and progressive. It's more than inconvenient! At some point I will need the cataract surgery, so I'm trying to understand what that entails. My ophthalmologist told me my cataracts aren't too bad yet and it might be a while before I can get Medicare to cover the surgery. After reading this thread, I'm confused as to exactly what Medicare will cover. Any clarification?

Medicare covers a basic version of cataract surgery, performed by hand, with a basic lens implant, that is not customized to your eyes. It also covers 90 days of routine follow-up care.

Modern lens implant or laser cataract surgery costs are out of pocket.

Medicare will still be paying its portion of the surgery.

Cataract surgery | Medicare

Thank you! That's a great video - very informative!