Correcting Presbyopia: Monovision

Dr. Daniel Goldberg offers monovision for presbyopia patients in Monmouth County.

As people get older, they gradually lose the ability to change focus from distance to near. This condition is called presbyopia and comes from a loss of flexibility of the lens inside the eye, as well as other age-related changes. This is a gradual change throughout life, but it usually is not noticeable until a person’s mid-forties (“presby” means older and “opia” refers to eyes). Although people may call this “reading vision,” it is the vision used for eating, putting on make-up, looking at a watch, and other near tasks. If you are nearsighted and also presbyopic, you may use this to your advantage by removing your glasses or contact lenses to see up close.

 

	Favors Full Distance	Favors Monovision
Occupation	- Airline Pilots - Professional Drivers - Law Enforcement	- Public Speakers - Lawyers - Business People - Accountants
Sports & Hobbies	- Golf, Tennis - Baseball, Basketball - Biking, Motorcycling	- Scuba
Need for Depth Perception	- Electrician - Dentist - Surgeon

 

After laser vision correction, the natural focus of the eye has usually been adjusted for distance. It is as if you are always wearing your distance glasses or contact lenses and can’t take them off to read. Regardless of previous prescription, if both eyes are corrected for distance, reading glasses will be necessary in people with presbyopia.

To decrease the need for reading glasses, some of our presbyopia patients in Monmouth County opt for the technique of creating monovision. With monovision, Dr. Goldberg fully treats one eye (usually the dominant eye) for distance, and the other eye for near. This leaves one slightly nearsighted (myopic) eye for good near vision without glasses.

Monovision can help you maintain reading vision in one eye to avoid total dependence on reading glasses. With monovision you must often give up some distance sharpness to avoid the reading glasses. A weak distance lens for the nearsighted eye may be helpful for night driving. Near glasses may be needed for times of extended or difficult reading. Many patients already experience monovision in their contact lenses, and are aware of its benefits and limitations. A trial period with contact lenses may help determine if monovision would be a good option for you.

Monovision is a compromise of both distance and near vision. Depth perception is also affected. Monovision is best for those people over forty who want to avoid reading glasses enough that they are willing to accept a reduction in their distance vision. For people with high visual demands like sports or constant near work, Atlantic Laser Center recommends full distance correction with glasses for near vision. Monovision is reversible, and additional laser treatments usually bring that eye to distance correction, if desired, and generally at no charge.

The chart above may help you to make a decision between full distance and monovision correction. Please contact Dr. Goldberg with any questions you may have!

Your vision is both precious and personal, and before making any changes to your eyesight – either surgical or otherwise – it is best to consult with an expert. Dr. Goldberg has published two groundbreaking scientific studies on surgical monovision. When it comes to experience, few eye surgeons top Dr. Goldberg’s credentials. If you are interested in monovision, Dr. Goldberg will be happy to help you decide which procedure is best for you during your consultation.

 

 To read a peer review on using LASIK for Monovision, click here.