How Symfony works
Symfony's optic carries a diffractive pattern designed to create a single elongated focus rather than two or three discrete ones, and its material corrects the chromatic aberration that reduces contrast in other diffractive lenses. The combination gives a continuous range of vision from distance to intermediate with contrast sensitivity closer to a monofocal's than a multifocal's.
What patients experience
Distance vision comparable to a monofocal. Strong intermediate vision. Functional near vision for everyday reading, with readers for small print. Some patients notice a starburst or spiderweb pattern around lights at night in the early months, which is generally mild and less troublesome than trifocal halos.
Symfony today
Symfony established the extended depth of focus category and remains a well studied, reliable lens. Since its introduction, Johnson & Johnson has released lenses on the same Tecnis platform with a wider range, including the Odyssey, and Alcon's Vivity offers a non-diffractive alternative. Which lens suits you depends on your measurements and on how you weigh near vision against night vision, which is what the evaluation is for. Symfony is described here as part of the range of lenses available today; the recommendation is always made for the individual eye.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
