Monovision Contact Lenses: What Santa May Not Know
We all know that Santa Claus wouldn’t be the same without those iconic glasses perched on the tip of his nose. But if you’re tired of struggling to read small print on holiday gift instructions or experiencing blurry vision while driving to grandma’s house, there may be a solution: monovision, also known as blended vision.
What is Monovision?
Let’s start with the common problem of presbyopia, which is part of the normal aging process of the eye. Presbyopia makes it harder to focus clearly on close objects. If you’re over age 40, you may have noticed that reading print or even your phone screen is becoming more of a challenge. One solution for this has been to invest in a few pairs of “reading” glasses that magnify to make close-up tasks easier. (for more on presbyopia, see https://atlanticeye.com/2021/12/why-santa-claus-wear-glasses/ )
But monovision has given us another option. Monovision is a type of vision that can be achieved with contact lenses, refractive surgery such as LASIK, or with artificial lens implants called intraocular lenses (IOLs) that are used in cataract surgery. In this blog, we want to focus on the monovision contact lens option as the least invasive way to try monovision for yourself.
How Does it Work?
Most people have a dominant eye, one that sees a bit better than the other. With monovision contact lenses, the vision in your dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, while your other eye is intentionally left somewhat nearsighted to allow you to see close objects. Many people adapt well to this technique and with both eyes open may not be able to tell which is set for distance and which is set for near. This involves wearing a different prescription in each eye.
The Benefits
1. Improved near and far vision: With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision, while the other eye is corrected for near vision. This can eliminate the need for reading glasses or bifocals.
2. Better depth perception: Monovision can improve depth perception, allowing wearers to see more clearly in three dimensions.
3. Greater visual comfort: Some people find monovision more comfortable than wearing bifocals or progressive lenses, as it eliminates the need to constantly adjust focus.
4. Enhanced visual acuity: Monovision can provide sharper visual acuity, especially in low-light conditions.
5. Convenience: Monovision can be a convenient option for people who lead active lifestyles, as it can eliminate the need to carry multiple pairs of glasses or switch between glasses and contacts.
Will Monovision Work for Me?
If you’d like to find out, ask your Atlantic Eye ophthalmologist about trying monovision with contact lenses. You may opt to use contacts for monovision in the long term, or you may use them to try out the effect of monovision to determine if you’d like to undergo surgical correction.
If they’re right for you, monovision lenses allow you to see clearly at both near and far distances. But not everyone adapts well to monovision. So if you’re having to check your list twice because the print is fuzzy, your ophthalmologist can evaluate your eyes to help you find the vision correction option that’s best for you.