Premium (Trifocal) Lenses in Cataract Surgery: Why You See Halos at Night at First
Last updated: August 2026
Quick answer
A trifocal intraocular lens lets you see far, at arm's length, and up close without glasses — in exchange, it's common to notice halos or starbursts around lights during the first few months at night. For the vast majority of patients this fades over time and doesn't outweigh the freedom of not depending on glasses.
When cataract surgery is performed, the cloudy natural lens isn't just removed — it's replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL). Choosing a monofocal lens (a single focus, usually for distance) or a premium multifocal/trifocal lens (several focal points at once) is one of the most important decisions in the surgery — and where most questions about the famous "halos" come from.
How does a trifocal lens let you see at three distances at once?
A trifocal lens has a surface with microscopic concentric rings (diffractive optics) that split the light entering the eye into three simultaneous focal points, instead of just one:
Why do you see halos at night?
That same ring design that gives you three focal points is, at night, what can make a point of light (a street lamp, another car's headlights) appear surrounded by circles or starbursts — something I often describe in consultations as "halos." It doesn't mean something went wrong: it's an expected, well-known consequence of how multifocal optics work.
At night: halos and glare around lights, more noticeable in the first few months and, for most patients, fading as the brain adapts. During the day and up close: you see sharply at all three distances, without glasses.
At night: the same lights, sharp and halo-free. Up close: you'll need glasses to read or use your phone.
In other words, it's a trade-off, not a flaw. The question I go over with each patient isn't "do you get halos or not?" but "how much do nighttime halos weigh against depending on glasses the rest of the day?" Most of my patients — especially those who already wore bifocals or progressives before surgery — choose the trifocal lens and, months later, tell me they barely notice it anymore.
Are you a candidate?
Not every eye is a candidate. Significant astigmatism, advanced glaucoma, macular degeneration, or another retinal condition may mean a premium lens isn't the best fit — sometimes a monofocal or EDOF lens is a better choice. This can only be determined with biometry and a retinal evaluation in consultation, not in general terms.
