Objective This study evaluated the early clinical effects of phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of the trifocal intraocular lens (IOL). Methods This was a prospective analysis in which 24 patients (26 eyes) underwent cataract phacoemulsification combined with implantation of the trifocal IOL. Before surgery and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, the patients were assessed for uncorrected distance visual acuity, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity, uncorrected near visual acuity, defocus curve, contrast sensitivity (CS), and total eye abberation. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data. Results The postoperative vision was significantly better than before surgery (P＜0.05). At 3 months after the operation, the uncorrected distance visual acuity was close to 0 LogMAR, and the visual acuity of +1.5- -4.0 diopter (D) defocus could better than 0.3 LogMAR. At 1 week after the operation, the CS was best during the daytime with glare and worst during the nighttime with glare, and difference was significant (P＜0.05). The total aberration, low order total aberration, defocus, and astigmatism were significantly decreased at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery (each P＜0.05). Conclusion Trifocal IOL improved far and near vision and provided patients with good visual quality.