Monovision and Laser Vision Correction:
Is Monovision right for you?

The natural lens inside your eye is an amazing structure, because it changes shape as you focus on objects near and far. When you look up close, your lens becomes fatter, and when you gaze into the distance, the lens becomes thinner.

This system works well until age 40 or shortly afterward. At this time, your lens gradually loses its ability to focus (accommodation), and the result is blurred vision for near objects. You begin to need reading glasses for close work, and may switch to bifocals so you can see both distance and near objects with one set of glasses. You may also notice a slight delay in changing focus from near to far. This loss of accommodation is called presbyopia, and its is the most predictable change in the human body.

Monovision has been used for years among contact lens wearers and is readily adaptable for people choosing Laser Vision Correction. With this system, your dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, and the non-dominant eye is slightly undercorrected, which means its primary focus is for close vision. Both eyes are still working all the time, but your brain soon learns which image to select. This system can reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses for those over age 40.

It may take several weeks to adjust to monovision. During this time your vision may seem less sharp as your brain learns to select and emphasize the clearer image. Some people experience this most noticeably while driving at night. The length of the adjustment period depends on the individual. As some adapt more quickly than others do. You adapt much faster if you do not constantly think about the monovision or compare the vision in each of your eyes.

Monovision will reduce your need for glasses by giving you usable vision at near and far distances after age 40, when most people become increasingly dependent on reading glasses or bifocals for close work. However, monovision does not mean you will throw away your glasses forever. You may still need glasses on occasion for certain activities, such as driving at night and/or reading extremely fine print. People whose work requires heavy use of distance vision (for example, those who work outdoors) may opt to have both eyes corrected for distance and simply wear reading glasses for occasional close work.

We offer monovision to people 40 years of age or more as a flexible, practical answer to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. Most people who choose monovision are happy with the results. However, monovision is a personal choice to be made by each person based on his or her lifestyle. It will help you remain largely free from the bother of corrective lenses for many years.

Your lifestyle can help you decide which type of correction will best suit your vision needs.

Is Monovision right for me?

Monovision is a personal choice to be made by each patient based on his/her lifestyle. Asking yourself the following questions may help you decide if monovision is right for you:

• What percentage of my time am I spending using close-up vision vs. distance vision? (Take into consideration your occupation as well as activities such as hobbies, crafts, applying make-up, shaving etc.)
   
  
• Do I work in an office setting or do I spend a considerable amount of time working on a computer or reading? Or does my occupation primarily consist of distance activities, such as working outdoors, flying a plane, heavy driving, etc.?
   
  
• Do I adapt to change easily? (With monovision your eyes will be different. One eye will be corrected for distance, the other will be slightly undercorrected for close-up. However, monovision works because your eyes are used together. Those people who continually compare vision in each eye separately will not adapt well to monovision).
   
  
• Am I a perfectionist? Or am I willing to compromise? (Monovision is not perfect, yet it is an excellent choice for those willing to compromise a small amount of distance vision to gain the ability to see things close-up.)
   
  
• Is my distance vision more important to me than my close-up vision? Is it critical that I have the best possible distance vision? (With monovision you may give up a small amount of distance vision to gain close-up vision.)

Thank you for your interest in Laser Vision Correction.