Monovision: A Different Method of Laser Eye Treatment

Monovision is a type of laser eye treatment that is commonly employed to treat presbyopia. In monovision, one eye is corrected to see clearly in a distance while the other eye is rectified to have clearer vision up close.

Presbyopia, an eye condition that usually starts in the early forties, occurs when the lens located inside the eye stiffens, resulting to difficulties in focusing up close. The traditional method of correcting this is by wearing reading, bifocal, or multifocal glasses.

Contact lenses are good alternatives for people who do not like wearing eyeglasses. These can be used to correct presbyopia and multifocal contact lenses are available so individuals can see clearly both at a distance and near. This is done by changing the residual prescription in the eye, with one shortsighted to make reading and near work possible, while the other is farsighted to make seeing clearer at a distance. This is called contact lens monovision.


Presbylasik, on the other hand, is correcting presbyopia through laser eye treatment. The main eye is treated for distance, this same eye used when looking into the viewfinder of an SLR camera or through a telescope. Likewise, the other eye is treated for reading.

In normal cases, both eyes can adapt to seeing clearly both at a distance and up near. With monovision correction however, one eye can see into the distance while the other is burry. The revere happens when reading.

Because both the brain and visual system have to adapt to new means of seeing, some kind of irritation should be expected with monovision correction. Patients who use monovision contact lenses generally adjust to improved vision just after a few days, appreciating the freedom of being glasses-free and still being able to see clearly both at distance and near sight.

Unsuccessful patients, often report the following difficulties:

Headaches - Headaches tend to exacerbate the situation especially if different prescriptions are used in two years.

Driving problems, especially reverse parking - It becomes difficult to turn to the sides and check the alignment of the vehicle during parking. The clearness of the two eyes differ because one can see clearly at a distance while the reading eye will see things blurred.

Computer use becomes uncomfortable - No eye is corrected for the average length from where a computer screen should be viewed because one eye is for distance while the other is for reading, which normally measures 40cm. Fuzzy sight therefore occurs when using the computer, leading to postural problems as the individual is forced to lean closer to the screen

Successful cases of using monovision contact lenses can be a preset for laser eye treatment. Done in the same manner as regular refractive surgery, the only difference with monovision is that one is intentionally treated for shortsightedness to counterbalance for the reading.