Blue Fin Vision® Featured In Ophthalmology Times: Living With A Trifocal IOL
- Posted
- Medically Reviewed by: Mr Mfazo Hove, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
- Author: Chris Dunnington
- Published: September 21, 2026
- Last Updated: September 21, 2026
TL;DR: Mr Mfazo Hove, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and founder of Blue Fin Vision®, spoke to Ophthalmology Times about living with ZEISS AT LISA tri trifocal intraocular lenses following his own cataract surgery. Two and a half years after the procedure, he explains how his personal experience has changed the way he discusses near vision, glare, halos and lens selection with patients.
A Surgeon and Cataract Patient
Ophthalmology Times interviewed Mr Hove during the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, held in London from 11 to 15 September 2026.
During the congress, Mr Hove moderated a professional session examining different intraocular lens options. He also spoke about his unusual perspective as both an experienced cataract surgeon and someone who has undergone cataract surgery himself.
Mr Hove developed cataracts following steroid treatment for uveitis, an inflammatory eye condition. When surgery became necessary, he chose the ZEISS AT LISA tri trifocal intraocular lens, a lens he had already used extensively when treating his own patients.
Trifocal intraocular lenses, or IOLs, are designed to provide functional vision across three principal ranges:
- Distance vision for activities such as driving and watching television.
- Intermediate vision for computer screens and everyday tasks.
- Near vision for reading and using a mobile phone.
Before undergoing his own surgery, Mr Hove had worked with many types of intraocular lens during approximately a decade of private practice. He told Ophthalmology Times that the ZEISS trifocal lens had delivered the strongest overall combination of distance vision, reading vision, patient satisfaction and spectacle independence within his clinical experience.
Living With Trifocal Vision
Two and a half years after his cataract surgery, Mr Hove described the quality of his vision as having “surpassed anything I was expecting”.
Before becoming a patient, he had explained trifocal lenses as providing separate focal points for near, intermediate and distance vision. His personal experience felt more continuous, without an obvious gap as his focus moved between different distances.
This first-hand experience has added another dimension to his clinical understanding. He can now explain not only how a trifocal IOL is designed to perform, but also what it can feel like to use one during ordinary daily activities.
However, an individual result should never be treated as a guarantee. Visual outcomes, spectacle independence and adaptation vary between patients according to their eye health, prescription, lifestyle and sensitivity to optical effects.
Glare, Halos and Adaptation
Glare and halos are important considerations when discussing trifocal IOLs. A halo may appear as a ring around a light source, while glare can make bright lights feel more intense or visually distracting.
Mr Hove said he stopped noticing these effects within two or three days of his surgery. His own adaptation has given him greater confidence when explaining the transition to trifocal vision, but he stressed that other patients may adapt differently.
Some people notice glare or halos for longer, particularly when driving at night. Patients should therefore receive balanced information about possible visual effects before selecting a lens.
The decision involves understanding the potential trade-off between achieving a broader range of vision and an increased likelihood of noticing optical effects around lights. Detailed diagnostics and an honest discussion about lifestyle and expectations remain essential.
How Experience Changed His Counselling
Mr Hove explained that undergoing cataract surgery has influenced the practical advice he gives to patients.
One technique involves changing a patient’s phone to its smallest text setting on the day of surgery. This encourages suitable patients to begin using their near vision rather than continuing to rely on enlarged text.
This forms part of the individual adjustment process rather than a test every patient must complete. Instructions following cataract surgery should always reflect the patient’s recovery, visual needs and advice from their surgical team.
Mr Hove’s experience has also strengthened the importance he places on recommending only lenses in which he has genuine clinical confidence. He told Ophthalmology Times:
“I won’t be the one doing your surgery… because in good conscience I can’t give you a lens I’m not convinced is the best one for you.”
His position reflects a central principle of consultant-led care: the most advanced or expensive lens is not automatically the right lens for every patient.
Selecting The Right Intraocular Lens
Selecting an intraocular lens requires more than choosing between near and distance vision. The consultant must consider the health of the cornea, retina and optic nerve, alongside the patient’s prescription, occupation, driving needs and expectations regarding glasses.
Blue Fin Vision® offers different lens categories, including monofocal, extended depth of focus and trifocal IOLs. Each option has potential advantages and compromises, and suitability can only be established through detailed diagnostic assessment and a consultant-led discussion.
Mr Hove’s experience as a cataract patient does not replace clinical evidence or individual assessment. Instead, it allows him to combine surgical expertise with a personal understanding of the questions patients may have about visual quality, adaptation and everyday life after surgery.
When To Arrange An Eye Examination
Arrange an eye examination if you notice:
- Increasing difficulty reading or focusing on nearby objects.
- Blurred, distorted or reduced vision.
- Difficulty seeing in dim light or driving at night.
- Straight lines appearing bent or wavy.
- New flashes, floaters or dark areas in your vision.
- Persistent eye discomfort or dryness.
- Any sudden or unexplained change in sight.
Sudden loss of vision, a dark curtain or shadow across your sight, severe eye pain, or a rapid increase in flashes and floaters requires urgent medical assessment.
Watch The Ophthalmology Times Interview
The accompanying Ophthalmology Times video covers:
- Why Mr Hove developed cataracts.
- Why he selected the ZEISS AT LISA tri trifocal lens.
- His experience on the day of surgery.
- The quality and range of vision he achieved.
- His adaptation to glare and halos.
- How becoming a patient changed his clinical counselling.
- Why he will not implant a lens unless he believes it is appropriate.
Read The Full Coverage
Discuss Your Cataract Options
If cataracts are affecting your reading, driving, work or everyday independence, the Blue Fin Vision® team invites you to book a paid consultation.
Your assessment will consider your eye health, lifestyle and visual priorities before any lens is recommended. You can discuss monofocal, extended depth of focus and trifocal IOLs with a consultant-led UK clinic offering personalised care and locations across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.
