I had a cataract surgery and my near-sight has got worse, why is that?

22/08/2019

There are patients who, after a few weeks of having cataract surgery, experience a worsening of their near vision, something that has a simple explanation.

Is it normal to see poorly up close after cataract surgery?

As cataracts develop, they cause increased fogging of the eye, which means that patients with already significant cataracts see better when reading. When the cataract is removed, especially if a monofocal lens for fixed distance focus has been used, the patient realises that they need glasses for seeing up close.

Nowadays there are multifocal lenses that can correct this problem, although not all patients are candidates for a mutifocal lens implant. This should be discussed with the surgeon in each individual case.

Dr. Juan P. Álvarez de Toledo