Monovision
Why consider Monovision
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 cannot 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.
Since Kelowna Laser Vision started doing Laser Vision Correction in 1994, the majority of our patients over the age of forty have opted for monovision.
What is Monovision
Monovision is a procedure that corrects one eye for distance and the other eye for near vision. It is an option that candidates may choose when having Lasik, PRK, or Refractive Lens Exchange. A patient’s dominant eye is treated 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. The patient can then see for both distance and near with both eyes open.
Who is a candidate
Candidates are usually over the age of 40 as this is when presbyopia starts to become noticeable and inconvenient. They correct to 20/20 vision in each eye. You will find out if you are a candidate when you come in to Kelowna Laser Vision for your complimentary consultation.
How Monovision is performed
The lasik, prk or lens exchange procedure to achieve monovision is the same as the procedure to set both eyes for distance vision. The only difference is the amount of treatment given to the reading eye. This will be slightly less for nearsighted patients and slightly more for farsighted patients.
Adapting to Monovision
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.
The need for glasses after having Monovision
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.
One of our surgeons, Dr. J. Chambers, underwent PRK himself in 2000. He chose to have monovision as did Dr. F. DeFreitas (now retired) when he underwent PRK in 1994.
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