Monovision
Not a Multifocal Candidate? Another Option to Achieve Clear Vision.
Monovision is the result of a procedure that focuses one eye for near-sight and another for far-sight. Monovision may be an option for you if you are in your mid-40’s, suffering the early effects of presbyopia, and are considering refractive surgery.
Monovision FAQ
Q: What is monovision?
A: Monovision refers to focusing one eye for near sight, and the other for far-sight. Monovision preserves reading vision in patients over 45. If you are not a candidate for Refractive Lens Exchange with multifocal lens implants, this is an option.
Q: What types of corrective eye surgery can create monovision?
A: Laser vision correction (LASIK and PRK), and intraocular lens implantation (RLE) can all be used to create monovision.
Monovision LASIK/PRK is a specialized technique in LASIK/PRK surgery to reduce or eliminate reading glasses dependency. Monovision LASIK/PRK corrects one eye for emmetropia (distance) and the other eye for myopia (near vision).
Q: What is a monovision contact lens trial?
A: A monovision contact lens trial uses contact lenses (one for near vision/one for far vision) to test monovision prior to any surgical correction. This trial is used to see if you will adapt readily to monovision or not. Patients who do well with the trial, overwhelmingly do well with monovision LASIK and RLE.
Q: How long does it take to adjust to LASIK monovision?
A: Usually, there is an adaptation period of one to three weeks. During this transition, you may notice occasional blurring of distance vision throughout the day. If you are considering LASIK monovision, a contact lens trial is recommended before proceeding with surgery.
Q: What are the limitations of monovision?
A: You may notice your vision is sometimes not as sharp as it would be if both eyes worked together. Under conditions that require heavy-use of distance vision, such as nighttime driving, you may notice the reading eye blurring or light scattering. You may notice a slight reduction in depth-perception. You may notice difficulty with fine visual tasks, such as needlepoint.