How the Lasik monovision option can help aging eyes

The lasik monovision option is the latest weapon in the widespread battle against presbyopia.  

Presbyopia?   Well, if you're over 40 the odds are you suffer from it already.  Even if you're younger, you will probably will suffer from it eventually, because it is a completely natural process.

Most people gradually start to lose the ability adjust the lens of their eyes so that they can focus equally well on objects that are near or far.   Often they end up needing glasses to correct this problem.  

These glasses are usually reading glasses, although sometimes the reverse occurs.  People who can read well without glasses can eventually find they need help for distance vision.

And sometimes you need two sets, one for near and one for far.   Or you combine them, and get bifocals.   Some people even need trifocals.

This gradual loss of the ability to focus well at all distances is called presbyopia.   It usually happens slowly (although there is a condition called "sudden presbyopia") and is irreversible - but there is something you can do to improve matters.

The lasik monovision decision

If you decide to go the lasik route because presbyopia has become a problem, you have to make a choice.   One option is to have both eyes adjusted for the best possible distance vision, and then use glasses for reading.

Many, however, choose another solution - lasik monovision.  One eye is adjusted for far vision, and the other for close vision.   This technique offers the possibility of doing completely without glasses - at least for a time.

Monovision was first talked about 40 years ago, and has been has been used with lots of success for over 20 years.  Normally the stronger eye is corrected distance vision and the weakest eye for near vision.

Strange but true, once the lasik monovision surgery has been done, the brain starts to compensate.   It ignores the eye producing the out-of-focus image. The result is that within six to eight weeks most people have adjusted completely to the changed images they are receiving.

However, this is not always the case.   About 15% of people who choose lasik monovision can't adjust to the change. They then usually have a second treatment to make both eyes the same, and just use glasses as well.

Trial contact lenses

If you want to try the monovision option before opting for surgery, you can get contact lenses that will produce the same effect, and see how you cope.   If things go well, you can then decide whether to go the lasik monovision route, or stick with the contact lenses.

There are other drawbacks.   The FDA has found that because the two eyes no longer work together, the result is poorer quality vision and a loss of depth perception.   These problems can be more of an issue when the light is bad. 

Driving a car could be stressful until your brain adjusts.   In effect, you will be driving a car with one eye closed, which can make you very anxious when you're behind the wheel..

Also remember that if you suffer from presbyoptia at the age of 40, things will get progressively worse.   Your eyesight will probably get worse until you are about 65 or so, which will affect the amount of correction required.

However, consider lasik monovisionif you're over 40 and you want to minimise your dependence on glasses or contacts. 

In those conditions, most specialists consider that lasik monovision is the best surgical option to manage presbyoptia.