Monovision Lasik Orlando Filutowski

What is Presbyopia and what is Monovision?

(Sometimes called Blended Vision)

Most patients over the age of 40 experience presbyopia, a naturally-occurring condition that results in the need for reading glasses. The natural lens of the eye becomes less flexible with age and the patient therefore has difficulty seeing objects at near (closer than arm’s length). Such patients are typically corrected with bifocals, progressive lenses, computer glasses or reading glasses. Nearsighted patients, who have always worn glasses for distance vision, may be able to take their glasses off to perform near tasks. Presbyopic patients have the following surgical options:

LASIK and standard REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE (RLE) OPTIONS:

1. DISTANCE BOTH EYES: This option provides the best overall distance vision. Following surgery, reading glasses will be needed for near vision. Nearsighted patients accustomed to removing their glasses to see up close will now need to wear reading glasses instead. Daily tasks such as shaving, applying makeup and seeing your cell phone will require the use of reading glasses.

ADVANTAGE: Best vision for distance activities beyond arm’s length.

DISADVANTAGE: Inability to perform near/intermediate tasks without spectacle correction (objects at arm’s length and inward will be blurred).

2. MONOVISION (ONE EYE FOR DISTANCE AND ONE EYE FOR NEAR): This option provides very good overall distance and near vision, but it somewhat compromises the best quality of vision. Usually the patient’s dominant eye is set for distance vision and the non-dominant eye for near vision. Following surgery, the patient should have very good vision at distance and near. Monovision correction should meet patients’ visual needs most of the time. Distance and near vision may not be as clear as they were with prescription glasses or contact lenses before surgery. Glasses may still be needed for visually demanding activities, such as driving at night or reading fine print in low light. Depth perception may be decreased in some cases. Monovision can be reversed (most of the time) if the patient is not comfortable with his/her vision.

ADVANTAGE: Generally very good distant and near vision for most activities; independence from glasses and contact lenses most of the time.

DISADVANTAGE: Small decrease of quality of vision, which may require spectacle correction for visually demanding activities. Quality of vision is affected by environmental lighting conditions, level of contrast and size of print or object being viewed. Depth perception may also be somewhat compromised.