~15-20 min (per eye)
Recovery within days
Imagine waking up and seeing the clock clearly — without reaching for glasses or readers. Combined presbyopia–cataract correction removes the clouded natural lens in cataract surgery and, with a premium multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOL, fixes presbyopia in the same operation. It's a path for those 45 and older who, since cataract surgery is coming anyway, want near and far sorted in one procedure — especially travelers who'd rather solve their 'aging eyes' in a single trip to Korea. A multifocal lens isn't the right answer for everyone, though, and we start honestly with exactly that judgment.
Premium multifocal IOLs correct presbyopia during cataract surgery, improving near and far vision to reduce reliance on reading glasses. Presbyopic LASIK/LASEK for patients in their 40s-50s is also available.
- Presbyopia + cataract
- Premium IOL
- Fewer reading glasses
Is it right for me?
A good fit if
- A good fit if you're 45 or older, with cataract clouding your view while presbyopia blurs near text and your reliance on readers keeps growing.
- Especially suited to active people who shift between many distances all day — reading, phone, cooking, driving — and want to live without glasses.
- Ideal if you want to handle cataract and presbyopia together on a single trip to Korea, fitting both eyes' surgery and early follow-up into a short itinerary.
- Satisfaction tends to be highest when the eye is broadly healthy — cornea, macula, optic nerve — and your biometry measurements fit a multifocal lens comfortably.
- A great fit if you want the trade-offs explained honestly — including the chance of night glare — and prefer to choose a lens around your own lifestyle.
Consider carefully if
- If you drive at night for work or are especially sensitive to glare and halos, a monofocal or EDOF lens may suit you better than a multifocal — we weigh this carefully together.
- If you have retinal or optic-nerve conditions — macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma — or an irregular cornea, a multifocal's benefit can be limited, and we may recommend a different lens based on your exam.
- A multifocal shares vision across distances rather than perfecting one, so if you want a single distance flawlessly sharp it may differ from your expectation — we explain this thoroughly beforehand.
1How it differs from plain cataract surgery
The heart of cataract surgery is removing your clouded natural lens and placing an IOL where it was. If a standard 'monofocal' lens goes in, the cataract is solved but presbyopia remains and you still need readers. Combined correction simply chooses, at that very step, a multifocal or EDOF lens that carries both distance and near focus — solving cataract and presbyopia in one operation. In other words it isn't an 'extra surgery,' but a question of which lens fills the IOL slot that's going in anyway. That's why the precision of lens choice and power calculation decides the result.
2How multifocal and EDOF lenses work
A multifocal IOL (for example the AcrySof IQ or ReSTOR families) creates several focal zones inside the lens, splitting incoming light toward far and near — which is how one lens lets you see both distance and reading. An EDOF lens stretches focus into a 'long zone' rather than a single point, reducing glare while preserving smooth intermediate and distance vision. It's less that one is better than the other, and more that the right answer shifts with your pupil size, cornea, the distances you use most, and how much you do at night. I lay out the measurements and we find, in your real life, the distance you look at most — then choose the lens.
3Precision testing — where 80% of the result is decided
Satisfaction with a multifocal is decided less by the surgery and more by the testing beforehand. Biometry measures eye length and corneal curvature to calculate the lens power; corneal topography reads astigmatism and surface irregularity; and we check the tear film, pupil size, and the health of the macula and optic nerve too. If the tear film is unstable or the cornea irregular, the measurements themselves wobble and lead to power error — so I never rush this stage. These results tell us honestly whether yours is an eye suited to a multifocal, and which lens fits. If you're not a candidate, I'll say so clearly.
4An honest comparison with monofocal
A monofocal usually focuses at one distance (most often far), making that distance very crisp while near work still needs readers. It has less glare and favors night driving, so for frequent night drivers it can actually be the better choice. A multifocal or EDOF greatly reduces glasses dependence, but some people notice night halos or reduced contrast and need an adaptation period. The point isn't 'which is better' but 'which fits your life.' So I lay out the pros and cons of both paths and we decide together around the activities you do most.
5Itinerary and support for patients coming from abroad
Healing Eye is about 70 minutes from Incheon Airport and a one-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station, so it's easy to reach even on a short trip. We usually design the precision exam and consultation, one- or both-eye surgery, and the next-day check into a single visit, deciding together whether to space the two eyes a few days apart based on your eyes. On-site interpreters in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and English mean you can fully understand the lens options and expected outcomes in your own language before choosing. As an MOHW-registered institution for international patients, we guide you from airport arrival, and after you fly home you can still follow up by LINE or WhatsApp.
How the surgery goes
- 1
Precision exam and lens consultation
Biometry, topography, tear-film, pupil, and retinal checks determine multifocal suitability and power, and we choose the lens that fits your lifestyle together.
- 2
Numbing drops
Surgery uses numbing eye drops — no needles — to keep the eye comfortable. You stay fully awake and feel little to no pain.
- 3
Cataract removal + multifocal lens placement
Through a small corneal incision the clouded lens is broken up and removed, then the pre-planned multifocal or EDOF IOL is placed precisely in its position and settles there.
- 4
Finish and self-sealing
The incision is so small it usually seals on its own without stitches. Each eye typically finishes in about fifteen to twenty minutes.
- 5
Same-day check and next-day follow-up
After a short rest we check your status and you head out; at the next-day follow-up your 1:1 dedicated surgeon personally reviews vision recovery, lens stability, and the start of adaptation.
Recovery timeline
Mild scratchiness or light sensitivity is a normal reaction. Don't rub the eye, follow the shield and prescribed-drop instructions, and ease bright light with sunglasses.
Many people feel their vision noticeably brighter and clearer from the next day. At the check-up we confirm vision and lens position and discuss when you can return to daily life.
A multifocal needs time for the brain and eyes to get used to varied distances. Night glare may show at first but usually eases as you adapt, and we watch over this process carefully with you.
Regular check-ups confirm stability, and the same 1:1 dedicated surgeon consistently manages your eyes' changes. With the lifetime surgery guarantee, you can feel reassured for years even after returning home.
Why Healing Eye
The same 1:1 dedicated surgeon is responsible from exam through surgery, adaptation, and lifetime aftercare. Because a multifocal lives or dies on adaptation management, having the doctor who knew your eye from the start see it through shapes the result — backed by our lifetime surgery guarantee.
On-site interpreters in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and English. You can hear the explanations that truly matter to your decision — the difference between multifocal and monofocal, the chance of night glare — fully in your own language, so you decide without misunderstanding.
International patients pay exactly the same as Korean patients — 100%. There's no tourist surcharge whatsoever, and the precise cost, which depends on your exam and chosen lens, is explained transparently in a free consultation.
Your surgeon, Dr. Kim Sun-young, specializes in cornea, glaucoma, and cataract — an MS from Catholic University, former Clinical Professor at Uijeongbu St. Mary's, and a member of ESCRS. With Google 4.8★ across 154+ reviews and a one-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station, follow-up visits are easy.
Presbyopia & Cataract — see if it fits you in 1 minute
Your exact candidacy and cost are confirmed in a free 1:1 consultation. No pressure, in your own language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cataract and presbyopia really be corrected together in one surgery?
Yes — choosing a multifocal or EDOF IOL for the lens placed during cataract surgery lets it handle far and near together, so we aim to correct presbyopia while removing the cataract in one operation. Not every eye suits a multifocal, though, so suitability is confirmed by precision testing. If you're wondering whether it fits you, just ask in a free LINE or WhatsApp consultation.
I'm scared of surgery and worried it will hurt.
It's done under numbing drops — no needles — so there's little to no pain during surgery, and each eye usually takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. You stay fully aware while only the eye is relaxed, so there's no need to worry too much. The greater the fear, the more your 1:1 dedicated surgeon will calmly walk you through it — clear up your questions first in a free consultation.
I heard multifocal lenses cause night glare — is that true?
Honestly, some patients do notice night halos or glare early on. In many cases it eases through the adaptation period, and by testing pupil size and night activity beforehand we may recommend EDOF or monofocal for those prone to it. That's why it matters to assess together, at the testing stage, whether yours is an eye sensitive to night glare — and we'll explain this honestly in a free consultation too.
How many days do I need to stay in Korea?
We design the precision exam, surgery, and next-day check into a single visit, so doing both eyes around the same time can fit a relatively short itinerary. Depending on your eyes, it's sometimes better to space the two a few days apart, so the exact stay is confirmed after testing. Message us on LINE or WhatsApp before booking flights and we'll plan the schedule with you.
Is it safe? Does the implanted lens last a lifetime?
Cataract surgery is one of the most widely performed eye operations, and the implanted IOL stays permanently in the eye as a rule, so the same cataract doesn't return. A later 'secondary clouding' (posterior capsule opacification) is often resolved with a simple procedure. Of course every surgery carries individual variation and risk, so I tell you honestly whether you're suited based on your exam — and stand behind the result with our lifetime surgery guarantee.
How much does it cost? Is it more expensive because I'm a foreigner?
Cost depends on your precision-exam results and the IOL type you choose (multifocal, EDOF, or monofocal), so it's hard to pin down an exact figure in advance. One thing is certain, though: international patients pay exactly the same as Korean patients — 100% — with no tourist surcharge at all. The precise quote is given transparently in a free consultation and exam, so feel free to ask on LINE or WhatsApp.
Ask today about a clearer tomorrow
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