The outcome of cataract surgery depends greatly on which intraocular lens (IOL) you choose. St. Mary's Jin Eye Center works with a wide range of 14 intraocular lenses, and chooses the lens together with you based not on clinic convenience but on your eye condition and lifestyle.
First, lenses fall into 4 main types
| Type | Focus | Features | Glasses dependence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monofocal | Distance, one point | Least glare, highest clarity | Reading glasses needed for near |
| Monofocal Plus | Distance + some intermediate | Monofocal clarity with added intermediate range | Near glasses may be needed |
| Extended depth of focus (EDOF) | Continuous far to intermediate | Natural focus transition, little night glare | Reading glasses only for fine print |
| Multifocal (incl. trifocal) | Far, intermediate and near | Lowest dependence on glasses | Mostly glasses-free in daily life |
Choosing a lens by lifestyle
| If this is you | Types to consider first | Representative lenses |
|---|---|---|
| 🚗 Frequent night driving (taxi, chauffeur, night commute) | Monofocal / Monofocal Plus / EDOF | Clareon Monofocal, Eyhance, Clareon Vivity |
| 📖 Lots of reading and fine-print work | Trifocal / multifocal | PanOptix, Odyssey, FineVision |
| ⛳ Outdoor activities such as golf or hiking | EDOF / multifocal | Clareon Vivity, PureSee, Synergy |
| 💻 Most of the day at a monitor | EDOF / Monofocal Plus | PureSee, Vivity, Eyhance |
| 👓 Want to be completely free of glasses | Latest multifocal | Odyssey, PanOptix PRO, Clareon PanOptix |
| 🌙 Especially sensitive to glare | Monofocal / EDOF | Clareon Monofocal, Vivity, PureSee |
The 14 IOLs available at St. Mary's Jin Eye Center
| Lens | Manufacturer | Type | Astigmatism correction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clareon Monofocal | Alcon (USA) | Monofocal | Toric available |
| Precizon Go | Ophtec (Netherlands) | Monofocal Plus | – |
| Eyhance | J&J (USA) | Monofocal Plus | Available |
| FineVision | PhysIOL (Belgium) | Trifocal | Available |
| Synergy | J&J (USA) | Multifocal + EDOF combined | Available |
| PureSee | J&J (USA) | Extended depth of focus (EDOF) | Available |
| PanOptix | Alcon (USA) | Trifocal | Available |
| Vivity | Alcon (USA) | Extended depth of focus (EDOF) | Available |
| Lisa TRI / ELANA | ZEISS (Germany) | Trifocal | Available |
| Clareon PanOptix | Alcon (USA) | Trifocal (Clareon material) | Available |
| Clareon Vivity | Alcon (USA) | EDOF (Clareon material) | Available |
| Odyssey ⭐ | J&J (USA) | Next-generation full-range multifocal | Available |
| PanOptix PRO ⭐ | Alcon (USA) | Next-generation trifocal | Available |
Odyssey is Johnson & Johnson's newest IOL, which St. Mary's Jin Eye Center was first in Korea to introduce.
How lens selection works
- Detailed examination — cornea, fundus, biometry and corneal endothelial cell tests to assess the eye
- Lifestyle consultation — we ask about driving, reading, work and hobbies and set priorities together
- Lens decision — the director personally explains and proposes the lens that fits your results and lifestyle
- Surgery — actual surgery takes about 10 minutes per eye; you go home the same day
About lens costs
For Korean nationals, cataract surgery is covered by national health insurance (DRG), and the out-of-pocket amount depends on the lens type. For detailed costs, 02-577-7782please contact us and we will gladly explain. For international patients without Korean insurance, the surgery is fully self-pay and we provide a separate quotation.
337 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 5) · Online Booking
