Presbyopia is “the normal loss of near focusing ability that occurs with age.” When presbyopia occurs, many people resort to using reading glasses or bifocals to support their up-close vision.
Another, less known, option is to ask your Orange County eye doctor to perform a monovision contact lens fitting. Monovision contacts can reduce your need for “readers,” and are particularly good for people who cannot wear bifocal contacts.
What is Monovision?
The concept behind monovision is that you wear a contact on one eye for distance vision, and a contact on the other eye for close vision. The contact for distance vision is usually worn on your dominant eye.
The term ‘monovision,’ means that each eye sees a different ‘field’ of vision more clearly. One eye will be stronger with distances while the other will be stronger up close. When both eyes are open, your vision will be comfortably clear and sharp at all distances.
Monovision may sound difficult to adjust to, but most people adapt smoothly and easily and don’t even notice which is the “far” and which is the “close” eye.
What Options are Available?
Depending on your personal needs and the demands of your life, your Orange County eye doctor may recommend a number of variations of monovision contacts.
Mini-Monovision
If you don’t do a lot of close-up work and want extra help seeing distances, you may be a good candidate for mini-monovision. A good example of a mini-monovision patient is a truck driver who needs to watch the highway and read road signs a lot, but only reads up close when looking at restaurant menus.
In this instance, a lesser magnifying power is added to the up-close eye. A person who has this type of monovision contacts may still need to use reading glasses on occasion but will do so less often than those who do not use monovision.
Modified Monovision
If your Orange county eye doctor prescribes modified monovision, you will wear a single vision contact lens on the distance eye and a bifocal contact on the near eye. Like mini-monovision, modified monovision provides sharper distance vision with still-acceptable near vision. In addition, “the distance power of the bifocal lens can be adjusted to provide sharper vision at arm’s length for tasks such as computer work.”
Things to Consider when Choosing Monovision Contacts
Some patients find monovision compromises their distance vision, and far-away objects appear slightly blurred. Others report that their near-vision is not good enough and they still need to use reading glasses.
The most serious consideration when choosing monovision contacts is that, although the eyes still work together, the difference in the two contacts causes a rift in binocular vision, causing depth perception to be slightly compromised.
How Much will Monovision Contacts Cost?
Because it is a more involved process and takes longer, the fee for a monovision contact lens fitting is higher than the fee for a standard contact lens fitting.
The good news is that monovision uses disposable contact lenses, which are very affordable.
Monovision Alternatives to Contacts
Monovision can also be accomplished with surgery including LASIK, CK, and “other corneal or lens-based refractive surgeries adapted for presbyopia correction.”
Before committing to surgery, Dr. Ghosheh will recommend you try out monovision for size with contact lenses, for about two weeks. This will give you a good idea of how your eyes will react to the surgery, and how monovision will feel for you as an individual.
Orange County Eye Dcotor
If you’re thinking about monovision correction, talk to Dr. Ghosheh at Advanced Eye Medical. Monovision contacts have only a brief adjustment period and carry with them many years of benefits. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Gosheh at Advanced Eye Medical to learn more!