35 patients were examined for their pseudoaccommodation 6 to 18 months after cataract extraction and implantation of a diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL). While in 15 patients a MIOL had been implanted in both eyes 20 patients had a MIOL in one eye only. 45 type 3M 815 LE and 5 3M 825 XE lenses were implanted. The mean age was 58.2 years +/- 9.6 years (33 to 76). Only patients without any pathology except cataract and preoperative refractive errors < +/- 5 diopters of spherical and +/- 1 diopter of astigmatic refraction were eligible for implantation of MIOLs. After estimation of the objective and subjective refraction the patients' pseudoaccommodation was measured by testing their visual acuity, adding lenses of +/- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 diopters to their best distance correction. All patients with MIOLs reached a visual acuity of 0.4 or better with a maximum peak at 0 and -3 diopters. The visual acuity of the MIOL patients was significantly better in the range of -1 to -4 diopters compared to the results of a control group of patients with monofocal IOLs. This suggests a wider range of pseudoaccommodation in patients with MIOLs.