Eye surgery covers very different procedures: correcting short-sightedness, replacing a lens that has turned cloudy and treating a disease of the retina do not answer the same need. The starting point for choosing an eye operation is therefore the diagnosis, then the benefit expected for your vision. Lasers, implants and microsurgical techniques each have their own indications, their own limits and their own follow-up.

A multifocal implant replaces the natural lens of the eye and shares the incoming light between several viewing distances. Its purpose is to reduce the need for glasses after cataract surgery or, in certain indications, after lens surgery carried out for refractive reasons. That gain in independence can come with halos, glare or a reduced perception of contrast. The choice depends as much on the health of your eyes as on how well you tolerate those trade-offs.

Cataract surgery involves removing the natural lens once it has turned opaque and replacing it with a clear implant. It is considered when reduced vision or glare interferes with your activities, or for certain medical reasons. The procedure is usually carried out as a day case, under local anaesthetic. The result depends on the cataract, but also on the state of the retina, the optic nerve and the cornea: the assessment exists to establish the improvement you can genuinely expect.

IntraLase LASIK is a form of LASIK in which a femtosecond laser prepares the corneal flap, before the vision is corrected with an excimer laser. IntraLase is the name of a technology used during the operation, not an alternative to LASIK. This surgery can reduce the need for glasses in selected patients, but it alters the cornea permanently and carries the risk of side effects. The pre-operative assessment determines whether the expected benefit matches your situation.