If they are chosen to be in focus for far away you can usually perform distance tasks without glasses in that eye after cataract surgery. These would be driving, watching television, movies, recognizing people, etc. You would need glasses for closer work including reading watches, computer screens, mobile phones, newspapers, magazines etc.
The converse is also possible, where the monofocal IOL is chosen to focus at near performing near tasks without glasses and that eye would then need glasses for distance tasks.
