EDOF Lens: How Extended Depth of Focus and Enhanced Monofocal Lenses Work

An EDOF lens (extended depth of focus lens) is an intraocular lens that stretches the eye's focus into a longer, continuous band instead of a single sharp point. It is implanted during cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange and aims to give clear distance and arm's-length vision, for driving, computer work or cooking, with fewer halos than a trifocal lens. The trade-off is near vision: many people keep reading glasses for small print. For all lens options, see lens replacement surgery.

What is an EDOF lens?

A task force of the American Academy of Ophthalmology defines an extended depth of focus IOL as one that gives at least 0.5 diopter (D) more depth of focus than a monofocal lens. There are two design families:

• Diffractive EDOF lenses, such as TECNIS Symfony (approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, in 2016), use a finely stepped surface to elongate the focus.
• Non-diffractive EDOF lenses, such as AcrySof IQ Vivity (FDA-approved in 2020) and TECNIS PureSee (FDA-approved in March 2026 and described by its maker as purely refractive), reshape the light wavefront instead of splitting the light.

European guidance (ESCRS, 2024) recommends EDOF lenses, or monovision, for people who want good intermediate vision with significantly fewer visual disturbances than multifocal lenses cause.

How is an enhanced monofocal lens different?

Enhanced monofocal lenses sit between a standard monofocal and an EDOF lens. TECNIS Eyhance, FDA-approved in 2021, uses a subtly reshaped surface to add about one line of intermediate and near vision on the eye chart compared with a standard monofocal, with a similarly low rate of visual disturbances. RayOne EMV, another non-diffractive design, extends the range by about 1.25 D when used in both eyes set for distance, according to EyeWiki, and its manufacturer reports monofocal levels of halos and contrast. Reading glasses are still needed with both.

What results do EDOF lenses give?

The US approval trial of the diffractive Symfony lens compared 148 patients with 151 who received a monofocal lens:

In the approval trial of the non-diffractive Vivity lens (220 patients), distance-corrected intermediate and near vision were each about one and a half lines better on the eye chart than with a monofocal lens. Severe halos were reported by 0.9% of patients in both groups, severe starbursts by 3.8% versus 2.7% and severe glare by none, although contrast sensitivity in dim light was somewhat lower than with the monofocal lens.

For PureSee, the manufacturer reports that 97% of patients had no very bothersome halos or glare, 97% would recommend the lens, and distance-corrected near vision was 1.5 lines better than with its monofocal lens at six months. Because these trials used different methods, the numbers should not be compared directly between lenses.

What are the limits of EDOF lenses?

• Near vision is functional rather than sharp. Larger print is usually readable, but small print or a phone in dim light can need reading glasses.
• Diffractive designs cause more halos than monofocal lenses, as the Symfony figures above show; non-diffractive designs stay close to monofocal levels.
• Contrast. Some designs slightly reduce contrast in dim light, although EDOF lenses generally cause less contrast loss than multifocal lenses.
• Precision still matters. Accurate measurements are essential, even though the manufacturer of Vivity states that it tolerates a refractive miss of up to 0.5 D.

Who are EDOF lenses a good fit for?

EDOF lenses often suit people who:

• spend much of the day driving, at a computer or doing arm's-length tasks, and do not mind reading glasses for small print;
• want to depend less on glasses but are wary of halos, such as frequent night drivers (non-diffractive designs in particular);
• have mild coexisting eye conditions. Because EDOF lenses generally cause less contrast loss than multifocal lenses, a non-diffractive EDOF lens may be considered in selected eyes with early macular changes, and the manufacturer of Vivity suggests it may suit some patients with mild glaucoma. These decisions are individual and follow a scan of the retina.

EDOF lenses are less suitable if reading fine print without glasses is your priority, when a trifocal lens may suit you better, or if significant macular or optic-nerve disease favors a monofocal lens. See how to choose a lens and presbyopia treatment.

Can an EDOF lens be combined with mini-monovision?

It can. Because an EDOF lens already extends focus toward arm's length, a small offset between the eyes can stretch the combined range toward reading distance: the dominant eye is set for distance and the other eye slightly nearsighted. This is often called mini-monovision or blended vision. The maker of one enhanced monofocal lens promotes a similar approach as "enhanced monovision", with a smoother transition between the eyes.

ESCRS lists good distance and intermediate vision and a low chance of halos among the advantages of monovision. The trade-offs are that distance vision in the nearer eye is slightly softer, and some people notice reduced depth perception or do not adapt to eyes that focus differently, which is why a trial with contact lenses is often suggested beforehand.

EDOF lenses on the market

Toric versions of several of these, for example PureSee and RayOne EMV, correct astigmatism at the same time (see toric lenses). These are market examples as of September 2026, not the lenses used at this practice.

Planning an EDOF lens in Antalya

Prof. Türkoğlu examines the whole eye, including a scan of the retina where needed, and discusses whether an EDOF lens, a trifocal lens or a monofocal-based option fits your eyes and daily life. The cost depends on the lens model, any toric version, whether one or both eyes are treated and the follow-up plan; see lens replacement cost.