Monovision Articles What is Monovision ?

Why do people have monovision performed?
As people age, they gradually lose the ability to focus on objects that are up close. This is known as presbyopia. The natural lens inside the eye is flexible when you are young which allows the shape of the lens to change easily when you read. With increasing age, the lens gradually loses its flexibility resulting in a decreased ability to focus at close range. This process can not be reversed but there are methods to improve near vision such as reading glasses, bifocals, progressive lenses and monovision. Monovision correction can be done with laser eye surgery and is one way to improve near vision without glasses.

What is Monovision?
Monovision is an option that candidates may choose when having either LASIK or PRK surgery. A patient's dominant eye is treated with the laser to see in the distance. The other, non-dominant eye is treated to have a closer focal distance, better for reading, but not as good for distance vision. Using both eyes together, the patient can then see for both distance and near vision.

Who is a candidate for Monovision?
Candidates are usually over the age of 40 as this is when presbyopia starts to become noticeable and inconvenient. They have 20/20 corrected vision in each eye. You will find out if you are a candidate at your complimentary consultation.

How is the Monovision procedure performed?
The surgical procedure with Monovision is exactly the same as LASIK or PRK. The only difference is the amount of laser treatment done on the reading eye. This will be slightly less for nearsighted patients and slightly more for farsighted patients.

Does it take time to adapt to Monovision?
Yes, the adjustment period usually takes from days to months. Most people adapt quite naturally, but are aware of the difference between the two eyes at first. When the brain adapts, this sensation goes away. Early on, some patients may find their eyes feel tired or they may see halos around lights at night. Patients should relax and use both eyes together to allow the brain to adapt.

Will I still need glasses after having the Monovision procedure?
Monovision is an excellent way to decrease dependence on glasses, but for some people it may not eliminate them altogether. Monovision allows people to see things up close for most tasks, but extra magnification may still improve vision for very fine print or for prolonged reading periods. This may become more noticeable as the natural lens of the eye continues to lose focusing power over the years. However, near vision will always be better with monovision than without. Most patients see well for distance vision without glasses, but if needed, vision can be improved for demanding distance vision tasks such as night driving, with use of occasional distance glasses.

Monovision is the contact lens technique for presbyopia that involves fitting a corrective lens for distance on a patient's dominant eye* and a near-vision one on the other. As with bifocal or multifocal lenses, it is an option that allows the same pair of contacts to be used whether one is driving or reading a book.

On the surface, this method may seem odd and one questions how clear vision can be achieved with the eyes working at different powers.

So, how does monovision work?

As we look into the distance, our dominant eye commands the brain's attention as vision information is transferred. The non-dominant eye still works, of course, but the dominant eye is in the 'driver's seat'. Even though the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision, it does not interfere with the 'communication' going on between the brain and the distance eye. In successful applications, the brain learns to adapt to the two extremes, minimizing any overwhelming dizzying sensation following an adjustment period. Monovision also works if the dominant eye sees distance clearly with no aid, leaving the non-dominant one to be corrected for close sight. The technique is more successful with contacts than with eyeglasses since glasses sit away from the eyes. By their design, contacts are more attuned to natural eye function.

Monovision provides effective correction for presbyopes in nearly 75% of cases; but because the method is a compromise, there are some issues that have to be dealt with. Diminished depth perception is a result of the technique, as well as possible mild headaches until one becomes used to the differing lens powers. There is also the possibility of having less distinct sharpness when viewing distance. In successful instances, the period of adaptation is approximately one to three weeks.

Contact lens applied monovision does not permanently alter eyesight, unlike refractive surgery that incorporates the technique. Contacts can be removed if a trial is not successful and vision will return to what it was before the therapy.

If you are presbyopic and want to depend less on reading glasses, then ask your eye care provider about monovision to determine if you would be a good candidate.

*Much like being right or left-handed, eyes are similarly coordinated. The dominant eye focuses for distance while the non-dominant eye handles near vision. A simple test to determine which eye is dominant involves keeping both eyes open as you raise your right arm to point at an object in the distance (approximately 20 feet away or more). Focus on the object as you continue to point and cover first your left eye and then the right. In one of these instances, your pointing finger will seem to shift to one side. Your dominant eye is the one that does not cause the shift. Your eye doctor can confirm which eye is dominant.

Today, with the new technology, Lasik monovision could solve your presbyopia problem permanently. It is a procedure where we correct one eye for distant vision and the other eye for near vision. By doing this, the brain could adapt more easily the two different levels thus solving the problem of presbyopia.

This procedure is relatively new in the market, however is gaining popularity as it could cure presbyopia which almost every one of us will suffer as we aged. Although some people do not have a problem in wearing bifocal glasses and contact lenses, some may wish to solve this problem permanently.
Usually in the procedure, the surgeon will use a blade and create a flab on the cornea surface, and clear the front layer of the eye. A laser beam light will then be used to reshape the cornea so that it could focus light more effectively. After this procedure is completed, the doctor will put the flap back and let it heal naturally.

Lasik Monovision Problem

This procedure may not be suitable for everyone who has presbyopia problem. It is best that you get your doctor advice before having it done. All surgeries, no matter big or small does have its problem, our eyes are designed to work in pairs to see thus it is said that this procedure may somehow interfere with our eye depth perception. This happens when some patients develop a problem when the glance quickly at rear view mirrors of car, their vision may become distorted.

Usually doctors may not advised the patient to go for Lasik monovision immediately, however they would recommends the patient to try Monovision with contact lenses to determine if the patient will be suitable for the surgery and to see if the patient will encounter any problems. This is good as the patient will at least be more assured on whether this procedure is suitable. Most people will need awhile to be accustomed to the but if you are accustom to it, you would very please that you do not need to be reliable to glasses or contact.

I do hope that the above information will give you more information on what this procedure is all about and I believe that Lasik monovision will be a good corrective procedure for people with presbyopia problems.