Should multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) exchange be offered as a viable solution to presbyopia in patients aged 50 or over without surgical contraindications?

By Karolina Jablonka BSc(Hons) FBDO Over one in three people living in the United Kingdom is at least 50 years old (Office for National Statistics, 2014). In due course, age renders everyone presbyopic. Nearly half of patients of an advanced age develop cataracts. Statistics show that cataract surgery is considered a clinically safe and commonly performed surgical intervention with an average low rate of ocular complications (Voyatzis et al, 2014). However, a high demand for the state funded procedures results in lack of resources and serious financial implications for the National Health Services (NHS), as well as long waiting lists and reduced quality of life for patients (Konstantakopoulou et al, 2014). Whilst working for an optical business that incorporates a medical eye clinic alongside optometry practices, it became apparent that due to the demographic characteristics of the area, patients are interested not only in easily accessible services but, in the case of private patients, in more advanced options such as toric or multifocal intraocular lens implants, which are at present not funded by the NHS. The multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) exchange is a technique based on the principle of cataract surgery. *These articles are kindly provided by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.*