OBJECTIVES: The objective of this analysis was to determine the net economic benefit to society from a SN60WF new technology intraocular lens (NTIOL) with an aspheric surface used for the treatment of cataracts. METHODS: The incremental costs of the aspheric SN60WF NTIOL were derived from the additional $50 reimbursement paid by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for implantation of NTIOLs in Medicare beneficiaries with cataracts. The economic benefits of the SN60WF were based on projected cost savings from averted rear-end passenger vehicle collisions in the recipient population due to improved functional vision. Improved functional vision was established using driving simulation results comparing SN60WF recipients to patients implanted with a conventional monofocal intraocular lens. A societal perspective and a ten year time frame were used in the analysis. All costs and benefits were discounted at 3%. RESULTS: The incremental costs to CMS for SN60WF implantation over the next decade were estimated at $60 million U.S. dollars (USD). Driving simulation results indicated that SN60WF recipients performed better than the control group in 34 of 36 driving tests. Furthermore SN60WF recipients were able to detect and identify potential road hazards from 0.5 to 1 second before the control patients in 12 of the 36 tests. The economic benefits from averted rear-end passenger vehicle collisions were estimated in the range of $105 to $158 million USD for the same 10 year period. Consequently, the net economic benefit to society was estimated between $45 and $98 million USD over the next decade. A threshold analysis revealed that a reduction in rear-end collisions of 31% within the SA60WF recipient population was enough to offset the incremental NTIOL costs associated with the new lens. CONCLUSION: Implantation of the NTIOL SN60WF in cataract patients provides a net economic benefit to society far in excess of its incremental costs.