Tecnis Multifocal Lens Implant

TECNIS® Multifocal Foldable Acrylic Intraocular Lens

Like all implantable lenses, the TECNIS^® multifocal intraocular lens by Abbott Medical Optics is used to restore vision after cataract surgery or for refractive surgery in patients over 50.  It's a foldable, plastic lens that focuses light on the retina at various depths of field. What sets this lens apart from the rest is its ability to not only provide patients with excellent distance vision but also alleviate the need for reading glasses.   

Tecnis is a multifocal diffractive IOL with aspheric design using wavefront technology to reduce spherical aberrations that cause halos, glare, and other aberrations especially at night.  According to the company it has a proprietary design to enhance vision at all distances and is not dependent on pupil size like the Acrysof Restor lens.  It is also made with diffractive technology similar to the ReZoom.  There are concentric circles with distance, near, and intermediate vision. 

Clinically, it delivers results superior to those of a standard multifocal lens.  When asked 4-6 months after surgery, 9 out of 10 patients who chose TECNIS^® multifocal reported never wearing glasses. The TECNIS was FDA approved in 2009 and has shown promising clinical data regarding restoration of vision and patient satisfaction.  Tecnis offers patients the chance to become spectacle independent providing good distance, intermediate and near vision, even in low light conditions. 

Tecnis Works in Low-Light conditions

Another important aspect of the TECNIS^® multifocal lens is that it offers superior reading vision, even in low-light conditions. Compared to the Acrysof^® ReSTOR^® IOL, patients with the TECNIS^® multifocal lens read significantly more words per minute in low-light conditions. 

Night Driving is OK with a Tecnis IOL

With most multifocal IOLs there is the possibility of having increased complaints of glare and halos but data supports that the TECNIS^® multifocal lens consistently delivers high-quality vision with few reports of severe halos or glare.  When adjusting to the new lens, some patients may notice rings around lights when driving at night. However, the visual impression of rings may lessen or go away over time. 

Patient Satisfaction with the Tecnis IOL is Excellent

Asked 1 year after surgery, 94% of patients would choose the TECNIS^® multifocal again and over 90% of patients with TECNIS multifocal IOL's functioned comfortably without glasses at distance, intermediate and near when questioned 1 year after surgery. 

Disadvantages of the TECNIS IOL

Slightly blurred distance vision, possible ghosting or "waxy" vision, and impaired intermediate vision are possible outcomes of the Tecnis multifocal.  Another disadvantage of the TECNIS^® multifocal lens is the possibility of impaired night vision due to glare, halos or starbursts (which may be permanent). Many patients adapt to the multifocal designs but there is always a possibility that adaptation doesn't occur.