Monovision is the contact lens technique for presbyopia that involves fitting a corrective lens for distance on a patient's dominant eye 00004000 * 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Do 3D movies in theaters appear correctly after lasik monovision surgery?
Has anyone who has actually had lasik monovision surgery tried to watch a 3D movie (the Real D 3D in theaters now)? This question isn't asking about normal lasik, only monovision where one eye views distance. Would really appreciate someone with first hand experience with this.-
ANSWER:
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QUESTION:
Did anyone have monovision lasik done on their eyes? How long did they see blurry?
Still seeing blurry in left eye (astigmatism) after 48 hrs. Right eye is blurry up close. Is this normal? I thought that you were supposed to see 20/20 right away.-
ANSWER:
Number one question...Did you try monovision in contact lenses prior to the procedure? If not, you may never get the quality vision that you desire. Monovision is not for everyone yet some cavalier surgeons do it on anyone over the age of 40. Regardless, give it about 1 month to gage your happiness. By then, your eye should have healed enough to judge the result.
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QUESTION:
Your lasik monovision experiences?
I had lasik monovision 10 days ago. Although I saw quite clearly (but not 20/20) for a couple of days afterward, the following week was very difficult with lots and lots of fluxuation in both eyes, and at work eye strain and irritation. The doctor is encouraging and advises patience, but I'd love a pep talk or advice from anyone who's had monovision lasik. At this point I'm not sure what's affecting my vision - adjusting to mono or the healing process. My next follow up with the doc is in two weeks. I'm disappointed that I didn't see perfectly the very next day - as I've lots of friends who had it, and did!-
ANSWER:
It can take up to six months for your vision to settle down; the cornea needs to heal. After six months, you may need another procedure; it happened to me. Give it some time and be sure to use lots of artificial tears; your eyes can dry up and this definitely affects your vision. Believe me, it is worth it in the end! Good luck!
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QUESTION:
Eye strain with LASIK monovision?
I had LASIK a couple of years ago and did the monovision option. I'm generally very happy with it, but I find my eyes get very strained and tired after a day of using my computer at work or doing detailed work. Would it help to use a pair of reading glasses? Or distance glasses like I use when I'm driving?-
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QUESTION:
Already 3rd week with monovision lasik, still seeing blurry for closeup..though it is improving?
from day to day...how long must I wait to adapt ....i heard 3rd week should be enough for vision stability. Pls help, I am kind of worry that I had made the wrong decision
i cant cut my fingernails properly, cant trim eyebrow properly, so sad to experience it
Pls share with me if anyone had done monovision before. Thanks so much...-
ANSWER:
I have done it 10 years ago and do not regret it for a second.
I do not have the perfect vision but I am happy.
Give it sometime longer it will all adjust just fine.
One of my eyes healed slightly faster then the other. I don't think there is a formula to it.
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QUESTION:
I am 52 years old male want to be oprated monovision lasik I Sergery. Is it safe for me?Should I go for that?
I am 52 years old male wearing bifocal spects. I want to be oprated my eyes through Monovision Lasik I sergery. Is it safe for me? Should I go for that? Is there will be any complicacy after the Sergery and where I should go for this Sergery? I live in New Brunswick, New jersey, United States. I am littel scared. Please guide me. Thanks-
ANSWER:
Make certain of it.i knew someone who went it and it worsened their eye problems
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QUESTION:
I am a 52 year old guy (with myopia and increasing presbyopia), considering monovision Lasik surgery.?
I have tried wearing contact lenses for a few days (as a trial), but I am concerned for a few reasons. 1. night driving is uncomfortable. 2. you have to concentrate quite hard for extended reading. 3. playing squash will take some adjustment.I read somewhere that monovision is "compromised unaided vision", so in other words you compromise your vision to allow you to do away with the inconvenience of constantly taking glasses on and off.
So I guess my question is this. How much does your brain compensate for having one eye for distance and one for reading? Do you eventually get to the point where you don't even notice (at the conscious level), or is it something of which you remain constantly aware? I don't expect to have perfect vision as a result of Lasik correction, but at the same time, I am not sure how "compromised" I want my vision to be.
Signed, "confused"
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ANSWER:
Don't do it. There's an extremely high probability you'd regret it for the rest of your life.
Monovision obtained through surgery should be banned by FDA because it's irreversible: once it's done you can't go back.
Monovision is totally innatural and it's a form of violence on your eyes, but if it's just contacts you can always remove them. You already tried contacts and you aren't very happy about it. Surgery would be a million times worse because you'd never see well for the rest of your life and you'd always feel a significant discomfort. You might even have anxiety or panic attacks when you realize you have ruined your eyesight forever.
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QUESTION:
monovision and lasik eye surgery?
I am considering the lasik surgery, but need the monovision. I tried it with contacts but vision was not good. I was told with lasik. The vision should be clearer. has anyone had the monovision-
ANSWER:
For presbyopic individuals (those who need reading glasses for near work) monovision is a very effective strategy to achieve good (not perfect) vision at distance as well as near without the need for any glasses. In monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other eye for near vision. The procedure entails using PRK or LASIK to fully correct one eye for distance and undercorrect the other eye (by 1 to 2 D) for near vision. Not every patient is a good candidate for monovision. The monovision option may be associated with compromises of binocular visual function, and some people may not be able or willing to accept the vision compromises. (http://www.agingeye.net/lasik/lasik.php)All patients who opt for monovision must understand that monovision has adverse effect on some aspects of visual function. Specifically, they need to understand the risks of reduced binocular visual acuity, stereoacuity, and contrast sensitivity. Monovision patients may require spectacle correction to obtain optimal visual functioning for certain tasks such as night driving or fine near-vision tasks. In addition, they need to be made aware of the risk of distance and near ghosting as a result of incomplete blur suppression. Blur suppression appears to be particularly problematic under night driving conditions because interocular blur suppression becomes less effective under dim illumination conditions. Therefore, patients must be advised of the need to wear distance glasses when driving.
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QUESTION:
What are people's experience with Monovision Lasik. (Custom view Wave front)?-
ANSWER:
That's what I had done. The important thing to know is that you should spend the extra money on the Lifetime Acuity Plan, because I had it done 2 years ago and had to have an enhancement on my left eye just this past Friday. The doctors were really nice when they found out I needed the enhancement and since I had the Acuity Plan, I didn't have to pay any extra to get everything corrected. They don't exactly know why my eyesight changed, but I'm SO glad I invested the extra cash just in case.....But, I now have 20/20 again. It's pretty amazing.
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QUESTION:
just done monovision lasik already for 5 days...why can't focus at near like reading, using computer,etc?
can see far objects, driving, ..... pls advice.-
ANSWER:
I got lasik a few years ago, and I also noticed some difficulty in focusing near. For me it was really only very near objects, so if I held the page out just a little farther I was fine.Basically, the surgery has changed the way you focus, and your eyes/brain just needs time to adjust to this. You should be fine after a short while, but if you are really concerned (or the extent of your focusing problem is really major) then you should talk to your doctor.
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QUESTION:
why does lasik monovision take so long to work?-
ANSWER:
its because your body has to get used to it
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QUESTION:
I'm 41 and just had lasik surgery for monovision on one eye done.?
I was farsighted and they corrected one eye so I wouldn't need reading glasses anymore. Well, it's been a week and my eyes are still confused. They can't see to read well enough without glasses and when I put reading glasses on I get a headache. I feel I may have made a mistake. How long does it take for eyes to adjust? Days, weeks, months??-
ANSWER:
Howlin is right on the money with his answer.
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QUESTION:
Lasik done soon, to decide which option to choose?
I plan on having lasik done, my options are : Monovision or correction just for distance and wear reading glasses...What is better?-
ANSWER:
The answer to whether or not you should have monovision or full correction and use reading glasses is actually very easy to obtain...try it first!After about age 40 the ability to focus on near objects deteriorates to the point that one needs reading glasses or bifocals. This process is called presbyopia. People who are naturally myopic (nearsighted, shortsighted) may be able to simply remove their glasses that provide distance correction to see near objects. This is using one’s own myopia rather than reading glasses.
For more on presbyopia, see:
http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/subjects/sudden_presbyopia.htmMonovision is the process of fully correcting the dominant eye for distance vision and undercorrecting the nondominant eye for near vision.
For more on eye dominance, see:
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-monovision-dominant-eye.htmAfter a few weeks, the brain figures out what is going on and combines the near and distant images. Monovision is not for everybody. About 1/3rd of those who try monovision don’t like it, and that does not take into account those who don’t try monovision because they don’t even like the idea of monovision.
What you can do is wear disposable contact lenses that mimic monovision. After a few weeks you will know if you like monovision or not. A contact lens trial is an inexpensive way to determine if full correction or monovision is best for you, and a lot better than lasering it into your eyes then deciding you don’t like it.
For more on monovision, see:
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-monovision.htmGlenn Hagele
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
USAEyes
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QUESTION:
Did anyone have problems after Lasik surgery?
I had mine done 2 weeks ago and I developed an inflamation in my right eye - I am taking drops for it. Has anyone had this? Did it go away? Also, my left eye was undercorrected (monovision) and I see very blurry far away. How long before I can get it corrected? My main concern is the inflamation - did anyone have this?-
ANSWER:
Inflammation is a complication after LASIK. It doesn't happen often but it does happen. It usually goes away. On the monovision question, did you try Monovision with contacts prior to surgery? If not, you may never get used to it and you will have to have the other eye done to balance out the eyes. I would let the inflammation resolve before you evaluate your final visual outcome.
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QUESTION:
Does anyone who has had lasik done on their eyes have any long lasting problems?
I had lasik done 8 months ago and then a retouch on my left eye done 5 months ago. I didn't like the original monovision and had my left eye redone - it was under corrected. Also, my eyes are still very dry even though I use Restasis and Systane. My doctor told me that my left eye will probably be 20/20 after six months, then he told me that it was under corrected. I am so upset and wonder if anyone has this similar problem. He also said that I could redo the left eye again but I am not willing to take a third chance.-
ANSWER:
Laser is used to change the shape of the cornea in front of the eye, so that the patient can see properly. Not all patients attain perfect vision, you may still need contact lenses or glasses. More detail at http://eye-care.in/lasikeyesurgery.html
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QUESTION:
Question about lasik eye surgury?
I am considering this surgery. Does the monovision make it difficult to see the ball when playing tennis and do I need to follow all the post op precautions such as no physical sports for 72 hours after?-
ANSWER:
I don't know the answer to the first part of your question, but I know the answer to the second.Follow the doctor's orders. You have very, very small blood vessels in your eyes, and following eye surgery to need to avoid heavy exertion. So not just sports, don't go nuts cleaning your house, really athletic sex, dancing up a storm, or any activity that makes you go red in the face.
72 hours is only three days. Oh, and don't take any saunas.
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QUESTION:
Monovision laser eye surgery?
I am shortsighted (around -2) and am finally (I'm 55) considering having my eyes corrected with laser / Lasik surgery. At the consultation, I was told the best thing for me would be monovision, ie just one eye corrected to 20/20 vision, the other left as the reading eye, only the astigmatism would be corrected. I have worn contacts with some monovision for years, but found reading a strain, as there was not so much difference in the correction. Now I have been given soft lenses to try out the monovision as it would be after the laser surgery. I find it really difficult to make up my mind. I seem to get on with it fine in everyday life, but worry about that I'll always feel my vision is not quite right. I can read ok, but what about reading over longer periods? I can drive, but it's not ideal. Monovision seems ideal for my work when teaching, but not when using the computer. Has anyone had any experience? What do you think?-
ANSWER:
Monovision delivers the best reduction in your dependancy on glasses. However, this depends on what you do with your eyes. Monovision is not considered a good option in some industries such as Cab/truck drivers, pilots etc.The particular areas of concern for Distance Vision have been stated already : low light conditions (night driving), intermediate distances (PC, sometimes TV). Thus, how critical is your distance vision in such circumstances? Secondly, Monovision does not fully correct your need for Reading Glasses either, small print or print in low lighting will require a pair of Ready Readers.
Trialling bother full correction and the monovision correction in similar circumstances is the only way you will get to a decision. Perhaps spend a few days under normal working/living conditions with either to get a better idea.
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QUESTION:
Strategies for Presbyopia Management?
I've read that it's fairly common to have LASIK monovision performed, which can enable a somewhat satisfactory existence when viewing the "real world"; however I've also heard that when this procedure is done, it disables the ability to view 3D video, which seems to require approximately equal vision in each eye. My question is as follows: After LASIK monovision surgery, can glasses/contacts be made/worn that will allow for stereoscopic viewing of 3D material?-
ANSWER:
Yes, it is possible. It would be best managed with a contact lens in your reading eye so that it makes distance vision in that eye equal to the distance vision of the fellow eye. Your eyes need to see fairly equally at distance in order for 3D video to work properly.
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QUESTION:
Had LASIK enhancement surgery a month ago, now I'm farsighted??
I was severely nearsighted when I had first surgery in August. I did monovision. The reading eye healed to a good level, but the distance eye was still not clear. Had enhancement on the distance eye in December, and now my local doc says I'm now farsighted. Does that mean I was overcorrected the 2nd time? Can they fix it again? The clinic where I had it done just keeps telling me to wait another couple of months. This is getting scary!-
ANSWER:
Well, I was actually going to get Lasik surgery over the summer, but now I think I'll just stick with contacts.~Jack
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QUESTION:
How much should I have to pay for LASIK on just one eye ?
This is known as "monovision" and is very common. The work-up was very thorough but they kept changing prices on me.First 9 became 0 and "custom" which I think is a scam , they quoted 00 !!!
Can anyone who had it done give me a "ballpark" price for monovision ?
It works well for me because I have used "monovision" contact for 3 yrs. and it gives me 20/20.
I want it done because my contact falls out sometimes during sports from drying out and contacts are a pain . Contact presriptions only last 6 mos. and you get soaked almost 0 (for eye exam) each 6 mos. in addition to the cost of contacts. LASIK would pay for itself after about two years.
The place that quoted me 0 is VERY thourough ! And I know people that have used them. I just wanted to know if this sounds like a reasonable price compared to others out there.-
ANSWER:
Why are you asking about this dirty business,when you are having 20/20 vision with "monovision" contact? Don't get cheated.
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