EDOF lenses in Zurich

EDOF Lenses in Zurich: Greater Depth of Focus – Suitable for Everyday Life, Comfortable, Clear

Presbyopia does not have to hold you back. EDOF (extended depth of focus) provides a wide, natural range of focus – particularly comfortable at the screen and when driving – and, depending on the lens model, halos are less frequent than with classic multifocal designs.

Book an Appointment Show me my suitability

What are EDOF Lenses – and how Do They Work?

Hand pointing to the lens in an anatomical eye model, with an enlarged lens model beside it

In brief

EDOF lenses: range of focus, night vision and costs

The EDOF lens (extended depth of focus) is an artificial lens that, instead of fixed focal points, creates a continuous range of focus from distance to the screen. At EyeLaser Zurich, a refractive lens exchange with an EDOF lens costs CHF 5’000 per eye; for cataract, the surcharge is CHF 2’700. Reading glasses are often needed for small print.

Instead of several fixed focal points as with trifocal lenses, EDOF lenses extend the range in which you see sharply, from distance to about arm’s length: screen, dashboard, the person you are talking to. In studies, reading glasses are needed for small print more often than with trifocal lenses (Tavassoli 2024). Halos are also possible with EDOF lenses; whether they are less frequent than with trifocal lenses depends on the lens model (Karam 2023; Hovanesian 2022). The criteria for EDOF lenses were defined by the American professional society AAO (MacRae 2017).

Medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS · Specialist in ophthalmology · Last updated: 2 October 2026

Who are EDOF Lenses Suitable for?

EDOF lenses are often a good fit if you …

work a lot on a laptop, PC or tablet,
drive, including at night, and value contrast,
want clear distance and intermediate vision for sport and daily life,
accept that light reading glasses may be useful for small print.

When is an EDOF lens not a good fit?

You also want to read small print entirely without glasses → a trifocal lens is more suitable
Disease of the macula or retina, irregular cornea, untreated dry eyes → further assessment, often monofocal plus
Myopia under about 55 with a clear lens → ICL or laser eye surgery is more suitable

During the pre-examination we check your cornea, macula, tear film, pupil and visual habits, and then choose between EDOF, trifocal and monofocal plus, in a toric version if you have astigmatism.

EDOF, trifocal or monofocal plus: what is the difference?

	EDOF	Trifocal	Monofocal plus
Vision ranges	Distance to intermediate (arm’s length)	Near, intermediate, distance	one distance, usually far
Reading without glasses	small print often with reading glasses	usually without glasses	reading glasses needed
Study value, near	uncorrected worse than J2: 30 %	uncorrected worse than J2: 3 %	–
Halos and glare	more than monofocal; on average not significantly fewer than trifocal, depending on the model less frequent	more than monofocal	few
Contrast at dusk	slightly lower than monofocal	slightly lower than monofocal	unchanged
Refractive lens exchange	CHF 5’000 per eye	CHF 5’000 per eye	CHF 5’000 per eye
Cataract (surcharge)	CHF 2’700	CHF 2’700	CHF 700

Sources: near vision Tavassoli 2024 (Cochrane, 1 study with 60 people); halos Karam 2023 (22 studies) and Hovanesian 2022 (funded by the manufacturer, not randomised); contrast Schallhorn 2021 (AAO). Toric versions are available for all three lenses at no extra charge.

Who implants the EDOF lens at EyeLaser Zurich?

Refractive lens exchange: depending on the case, Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, Dr. med. Myron Kynigopoulos or Dr. med. Valery Vinzent Wittwer; Dr. Derhartunian is the medical director and oversees all findings and measurement data.
Cataract: our highly specialised team led by Dr. Kynigopoulos; we bill the examination to basic insurance.
Measurement: MS-39 (CSO) and Anterion (Heidelberg) for the cornea, biometry and lens calculation.
Location: Strehlgasse 33, 8001 Zürich; the Urania car park is within walking distance.

Process – your Path to EDOF Lenses

Free initial consultation (for cataract: examination)

Visual Profile (PC, Night Driving, Sports), Goals, Medical Conditions

Precision Diagnostics

Biometry and measurement of optical quality → decision on EDOF or another lens, toric or not

Outpatient Procedure (≈ 15 Min/Eye)

Topical Anesthesia, Micro-invasive Lens Exchange, Structured, Calm Process

Aftercare & Fine-tuning

Check-ups in Zurich the next day, after one week, one month and three months; any laser fine-tuning is included in the first year for a refractive lens exchange

How well do you see with EDOF lenses, and what are the risks?

Independence from glasses: multifocal and EDOF lenses make glasses necessary less often than monofocal lenses; for near vision, trifocal lenses are better (Schallhorn 2021; Tavassoli 2024).
Halos and contrast: more frequent than with monofocal lenses, contrast at dusk slightly lower (Schallhorn 2021); adaptation takes weeks to months (Rosa 2017).
After-cataract: 5.8 to 19.3 % of eyes need a YAG treatment lasting a few minutes within five years (Ursell 2020).
Infection: rare, 0.023 % in a Swedish registry study (Friling 2024).
Retina: after lens surgery, the risk of retinal detachment is 0.99 % over four years, and markedly higher in high myopia (Daien 2015).
Residual refractive error: laser fine-tuning included in the first year for a refractive lens exchange, and for cataract in the tier with several distances (CHF 2’700).

These figures come from published studies, not from our own data.

What does an EDOF lens cost?

Woman with a clipboard next to the German words “Which laser eye method?” and “Life without reading glasses”

The price depends not on the lens but on your situation. Three cases, three clear answers.

Cataract with basic insurance: We bill the operation to your basic insurance under the TARDOC tariff. For an EDOF or multifocal lens you pay a surcharge of CHF 2,700 per eye, plus CHF 1,000 with the femtosecond laser. All cataract surcharges

Lens exchange without cataract: Refractive lens exchange without cataract costs CHF 5,000 per eye, CHF 6,000 with the femtosecond laser — regardless of which implant is used. Refractive lens exchange

Cataract as a self-payer: Without Swiss basic insurance, cataract surgery is priced like lens exchange: CHF 5,000 per eye, CHF 6,000 with the femtosecond laser.

For comparison: for sharp vision at one distance (monofocal plus), the surcharge for cataract is CHF 700 per eye. All prices at a glance: Lens implantation costs · all lens options: Lens surgery in Zurich.

A Word from Dr. Derhartunian

“EDOF technology closes the gap between monofocal and trifocal lenses. If you prioritise quality of vision and comfort when driving at night and want to do without glasses in daily life – especially when working at the PC – EDOF is often a good choice.”

Sources

Study figures come from published research and are not our own data. Study populations differ in age, baseline values and lens model.

Tavassoli S, Ziaei H, Yadegarfar ME et al. Trifocal versus extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses after cataract extraction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024;7:CD014891. PubMed 38984608
Karam M, Alkhowaiter N, Alkhabbaz A et al. Extended Depth of Focus Versus Trifocal for Intraocular Lens Implantation: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2023;251:52–70. PubMed 36736751
Hovanesian JA, Jones M, Allen Q. The Vivity Extended Range of Vision IOL vs the PanOptix Trifocal, ReStor 2.5 Active Focus and ReStor 3.0 Multifocal Lenses: A Comparison of Patient Satisfaction, Visual Disturbances, and Spectacle Independence. Clin Ophthalmol 2022;16:145–152. (Funded by Alcon, not randomised.) PubMed 35082481
Schallhorn JM, Pantanelli SM, Lin CC et al. Multifocal and Accommodating Intraocular Lenses for the Treatment of Presbyopia: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology 2021;128(10):1469–1482. PubMed 33741376
MacRae S, Holladay JT, Glasser A et al. Special Report: American Academy of Ophthalmology Task Force Consensus Statement for Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lenses. Ophthalmology 2017;124(1):139–141. PubMed 27743644
de Silva SR, Evans JR, Kirthi V et al. Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;12:CD003169. PubMed 27943250
Rosa AM, Miranda ÂC, Patrício MM et al. Functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess neuroadaptation to multifocal intraocular lenses. J Cataract Refract Surg 2017;43(10):1287–1296. PubMed 29120714
Ursell PG, Dhariwal M, O’Boyle D et al. 5 year incidence of YAG capsulotomy and PCO after cataract surgery with single-piece monofocal intraocular lenses: a real-world evidence study of 20,763 eyes. Eye (Lond) 2020;34(5):960–968. (Study funded by Alcon.) PubMed 31616057
Friling E, Bro T, Lundström M, Montan P. Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and effect of different intracameral antibiotic regimes in Sweden 2011–2017: national registry study. J Cataract Refract Surg 2024;50(8):828–835. PubMed 38661497
Daien V, Le Pape A, Heve D et al. Incidence, Risk Factors, and Impact of Age on Retinal Detachment after Cataract Surgery in France: A National Population Study. Ophthalmology 2015;122(11):2179–2185. PubMed 26278859

Does an EDOF lens suit your daily life?

The suitability test gives you an initial assessment in about 45 seconds. For a refractive lens exchange, book a free initial consultation at Strehlgasse 33 or by video; for cataract, an examination covered by basic insurance.

Check suitability Call 044 221 95 02

Online appointment

Frequently asked questions about EDOF lenses

Am I Suitable for EDOF?

Usually yes for presbyopia and a focus on intermediate distances (PC, Küche, Gespräch). We examine the cornea, macula, tear film, pupil, and visual goals. With Astigmatism can be corrected with toric EDOF lenses; for macular or corneal issues, we advise on alternatives.

Will I See Completely without Glasses with EDOF?

In everyday life häufig ja: PC, Autofahren, Einkauf, TV. Für Very small print at close range – especially in low light – some people use fine reading glasses. We discuss this openly.

EDOF or trifocal: which is right for me?

In studies, trifocal lenses give better near vision without glasses (Tavassoli 2024); EDOF lenses cover distance and screen, with reading glasses often needed for small print. For halos, a meta-analysis found no established difference (Karam 2023); some non-diffractive EDOF models perform better. At EyeLaser Zurich, both cost CHF 5’000 per eye for a refractive lens exchange; what matters is your daily life.

What does a EDOF lens cost — for cataract and for lens exchange?

It depends on your situation, not on the lens. With a medically indicated cataract and basic insurance, the operation is billed under the TARDOC tariff; you pay the surcharge for the lens — CHF 2,700 per eye for EDOF and multifocal lenses, plus CHF 1,000 with the femtosecond laser. Refractive lens exchange without cataract costs CHF 5,000 per eye, CHF 6,000 with the femtosecond laser, regardless of the implant. Without Swiss basic insurance, lens-exchange prices apply to cataract surgery as well.

Does the Procedure Hurt?

Outpatient under topical anesthesia – Pain is not expected. Brief pressure/touch sensations are normal. The procedure is standardized and explained step by step.

Are halos and glare possible with EDOF lenses?

Yes. Halos and glare occur more frequently with EDOF lenses than with monofocal lenses (Schallhorn 2021). Compared with trifocal lenses, a meta-analysis of 22 studies found no statistically established difference (Karam 2023); with non-diffractive EDOF models, studies report fewer halos. At EyeLaser Zurich we choose the lens model according to your daily life and support your adaptation at the check-ups.

How is Vision on Screens?

A core strength of EDOF: the intermediate range (≈ 60–80 cm) is stable and comfortable. Viele berichten von natural, relaxed screen vision.

Can I Play Sports?

You can resume light sport without body contact about one to two weeks after a refractive lens exchange. Swimming and saunas are usually possible after about two weeks once your doctor has given the all-clear. Contact and ball sports are usually possible after four weeks, in each case once cleared at your check-up.

How Long Does an EDOF Lens Last?

For lifelong use ausgelegt. Da die natürliche Linse ersetzt ist, kann später no cataracts can develop later.

Do I need follow-up checks after an EDOF lens?

Yes. After a refractive lens exchange, EyeLaser Zurich checks your eyes the next day, after one week, after one month and after three months; these appointments are included in the price. After that, we recommend an annual check-up for CHF 180. If you have problems in the first 24 hours, you can reach the surgeon around the clock; after that, at night, the emergency department of the hospital on duty.

What if Residual Refractive Error Remains?

Depending on the cornea/overall situation, fine-tuning are possible (e.g. laser touch-up). We plan conservatively and prioritize safety.

Are there Toric EDOF Lenses?

Yes. Bei Hornhautverkrümmung stehen toric EDOF designs are available. Selection based on biometry, axis, and stability.

Which EDOF lenses do you use?

EyeLaser Zurich uses EDOF lenses from established manufacturers, for example PureSee or LuxSmart; which model suits your eye is decided by the measurements from the pre-examination and your daily life (near vision, night driving, screen). If you have astigmatism, we choose the toric version. For a refractive lens exchange, every lens costs the same, CHF 5’000 per eye.

Does Basic Insurance Cover Costs?

How Do I Make an Appointment?

Online or on 044 221 95 02. For a refractive lens exchange, it starts with the free initial consultation at EyeLaser Zurich, in person or by video; this is followed by the pre-examination for CHF 300, which is credited if you go ahead with treatment. For cataract, you book an examination directly; it is billed to basic insurance together with all associated examinations.