“The world has become clear again”: Lee Moon-sae also underwent cataract surgery—are multifocal lenses the answer? [Health Talk]

[Financial News] “I can see so well.” That was singer Lee Moon-sae’s reaction a week after cataract surgery.
On the 22nd, Lee Moon-sae posted a photo on his social media, saying, “It’s been exactly a week since I had cataract surgery, and I’m on my way to the hospital for a checkup.” He said, “Maybe because I also had surgery for presbyopia, I can see so well,” expressing satisfaction with the results.
Cataracts are a leading eye condition, diagnosed in 70% of adults aged 60 and older. The National Health Insurance Service’s Statistical Yearbook of Major Surgeries also shows that cataract surgery has ranked as the most frequently performed surgery every year.
Professor Kim Ki-young of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kyung Hee University Hospital said, “A cataract is a condition in which the cortex of the lens, which acts like a camera lens, turns white, or the center hardens and turns yellow, causing vision to become cloudy and eyesight to decline. It progresses slowly, with considerable variation from person to person, and develops gradually over months to years. Symptoms tend to become more pronounced in winter, when cold winds, dry weather and the low angle of the sun mean greater exposure to ultraviolet rays.”


The main cause is aging of the lens. Common symptoms include lights appearing to spread, increased glare and double vision, in which objects appear doubled. The problem is that people mistake these symptoms for fatigue or ordinary presbyopia, delay diagnosis and treatment, and allow the condition to worsen.
The most effective treatment is surgery. After making an incision of about 1–2 mm in the cornea, the surgeon inserts instruments and removes the clouded lens using phacoemulsification and aspiration, then implants an artificial lens in the capsular bag.
Professor Kim said, “If the opportunity for surgery is missed and the cataract progresses to an advanced, hypermature stage, the lens may begin to liquefy, causing pressure inside the eye to rise or the condition to worsen into iritis. The risk of posterior capsule rupture during surgery also increases, potentially leading to a second operation, such as a vitrectomy. Because cataracts are a common cause of blindness, regular checkups are essential when symptoms appear. Vision can be improved with surgery lasting about 10–15 minutes and requiring no general anesthesia, so I recommend seeking treatment promptly.”


Intraocular lenses are divided into monofocal and multifocal types according to the number of focal points at which they bring light to a focus. The efficiency of light reaching the retina varies with the number of focal points, affecting sharpness and vision at different distances.
Professor Kim explained, “A monofocal intraocular lens focuses at either near or far distance, so you may need reading glasses or other glasses depending on the focal distance. A multifocal intraocular lens is designed with two or more focal points, so it can provide both near and distance vision without reading glasses and can also correct presbyopia.”
Multifocal intraocular lenses now include trifocal lenses, which correct intermediate vision in addition to near and far vision, as well as continuous-focus lenses that provide a continuous range of focus from near to intermediate distances. In theory, continuous-focus lenses are considered to provide better visual quality across the full range of distances.
However, more focal points do not automatically mean a better lens. Professor Kim advised, “Multifocal intraocular lenses can cause reduced sharpness, glare and halos, so they may not be suitable for people whose lifestyles require keen vision, such as those who drive at night. It is best to discuss the pros and cons of each lens with a specialist and make a careful decision based on your lifestyle.”
Vision can sometimes decline again after surgery because of posterior capsule opacification, a clouding of the membrane behind the artificial lens. In such cases, vision can be restored by using a laser to open the clouded membrane, without repeat surgery.


[email protected] Jeong Myeong-jin, medical correspondent Reporter