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Monovision: Some People Just Want Everything...So Why Not?
Yep, we're back talking about refractive surgery.
The number of USA refractive surgery cases being performed is staggering. The pendulum has definitely swung back. Nowadays so many people are seeking refractive surgery that a decade-long effort to restrict the number of ophthalmologists-in-training has been abandoned. Most training programs are increasing the number of new ophthalmology residents and the number of young doctors seeking such training has also blossomed.
Enough health policy; back to our discussion topic - refractive surgery. If you had to decide, would you choose clear distance vision or sharp reading vision? When refractive surgery was in its infancy patients weren't given such a choice (they were the lucky ones!) The early procedures like RK and PRK accurately corrected distance refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Since most patients were young adults their robust powers of accommodation automatically gave them whatever near focusing power they needed. When these happy campers turned 40 they drove to the drug store (without wearing glasses!) to buy some cheap readers. Presbyopia had caught up with them.
Today, adults over 40 considering refractive surgery want more options. Is is possible to correct for distance in one eye, for near in the fellow eye? Can you really have it all?
One solution is called Monovision: near vision correction in one eye, distance correction in the opposite eye. Monovision was introduced long ago by contact lens practitioners, prescribing two different contact lenses with two different corrections. Applied to refractive surgery, the patient is treated so that one eye sees clearly at distance, the other eye reads without correction. No glasses whatsoever. When it works it is absolutely magical. Patients are ecstatic!
When it works.
Not everyone tolerates monovision. For some it confuses the brain, induces problems with depth perception, makes others dizzy.
If you are contemplating monovision refractive surgery ask the ophthalmologist to perform this simple experiment before you consent to undergo surgery. Have yourself fitted with a trial pair of contact lenses that will optically simulate the results of monovision refractive surgery. While wearing these contact lenses attempt a variety of visual tasks: drive a car, read the newspaper, operate a computer, descend stairs, go shopping, etc. It won't take long for you to decide if monovision agrees with you.
Unsure about monovision? Take the time to fully discuss with your eye surgeon all of the proposed benefits and potential complications. No single procedure is right for every patient. The more questions you ask the more options become available to you.
Related Topics:
The number of USA refractive surgery cases being performed is staggering. The pendulum has definitely swung back. Nowadays so many people are seeking refractive surgery that a decade-long effort to restrict the number of ophthalmologists-in-training has been abandoned. Most training programs are increasing the number of new ophthalmology residents and the number of young doctors seeking such training has also blossomed.
Enough health policy; back to our discussion topic - refractive surgery. If you had to decide, would you choose clear distance vision or sharp reading vision? When refractive surgery was in its infancy patients weren't given such a choice (they were the lucky ones!) The early procedures like RK and PRK accurately corrected distance refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Since most patients were young adults their robust powers of accommodation automatically gave them whatever near focusing power they needed. When these happy campers turned 40 they drove to the drug store (without wearing glasses!) to buy some cheap readers. Presbyopia had caught up with them.
Today, adults over 40 considering refractive surgery want more options. Is is possible to correct for distance in one eye, for near in the fellow eye? Can you really have it all?
One solution is called Monovision: near vision correction in one eye, distance correction in the opposite eye. Monovision was introduced long ago by contact lens practitioners, prescribing two different contact lenses with two different corrections. Applied to refractive surgery, the patient is treated so that one eye sees clearly at distance, the other eye reads without correction. No glasses whatsoever. When it works it is absolutely magical. Patients are ecstatic!
When it works.
Not everyone tolerates monovision. For some it confuses the brain, induces problems with depth perception, makes others dizzy.
If you are contemplating monovision refractive surgery ask the ophthalmologist to perform this simple experiment before you consent to undergo surgery. Have yourself fitted with a trial pair of contact lenses that will optically simulate the results of monovision refractive surgery. While wearing these contact lenses attempt a variety of visual tasks: drive a car, read the newspaper, operate a computer, descend stairs, go shopping, etc. It won't take long for you to decide if monovision agrees with you.
Unsure about monovision? Take the time to fully discuss with your eye surgeon all of the proposed benefits and potential complications. No single procedure is right for every patient. The more questions you ask the more options become available to you.
Related Topics:
