I didn't have the 3D effect ever. If you want the truth, everything was pretty flat for me. I couldn't judge distances so had to quit driving at night, until after the surgery. I was age 51. Early onset cataracts. I was legally blind for about the last 9 months. The first eye was a cinch. I could see a few hours later. The second eye had some excess bleeding so it was several days before the eye cleared. My surgery was in 1999. Improvements since then. I had worn glasses for distance for 40 years. After surgery no glasses for distance. Uncorrected is 20/30 - 20/35. Good enough for me. But I do have to have "cheaters" for reading and close work. Before surgery the doctor told me that something can go wrong in about 1% of cases. I was sure that one percent would be me. I am so happy with my results.