Monovision LASIK is a procedure that helps to correct presbyopia. This is the eye condition where the person cannot see well up close. Monovision LASIK, also known as blended vision, is a laser surgical procedure that corrects the eyes differently. One eye is corrected to see near and the other to see at a distance. The procedure is different from the standard LASIK, where both eyes get correction for the same distance.

Correcting Presbyopia

The natural eye lens focuses the vision to see up close. The eye has muscles that are attached to the lens to help in flexing or relaxing. After the age of 40, the eye lenses begin to stiffen, and the muscles find it difficult to flex the lenses.

This affects the person’s ability to see clearly, a condition known as presbyopia. Patients with presbyopia wear multifocal or bifocal lenses to help with up-close tasks, such as reading. These patients are ideal candidates for monovision LASIK.

Other Candidates for Monovision LASIK

To find out if you are a candidate for monovision LASIK, you need to determine your vision type. Presbyopia usually affects people between the ages of 40 to 65. Patients who are farsighted or hyperopic have difficulties seeing up close as they get older. They can benefit from monovision LASIK to correct one eye.

Patients with myopia or nearsightedness have difficulty seeing distant objects, but they can see well up close. Standard LASIK can correct distant vision in both eyes, but it can affect their close vision. Monovision LASIK can be done afterward to improve the ability to read or see up close. Patients who are neither nearsighted nor farsighted but need reading glasses can get monovision LASIK to correct one eye.

Adapting to Monovision

There is an adjustment period when using monovision. One eye is used for distance vision and the other for near, which means the brain needs to adapt. Talk to your eye doctor about trying monovision contacts before you get the surgery. You can use the contact lenses for an adjustment period before committing to monovision LASIK.

Before Monovision LASIK

Before the surgery, the eye doctor will check your lens prescription to find out the dominant eye. The dominant eye will usually be the one that sees clearly at a distance. The non-dominant eye is the one that sees near. A few people do not have a dominant eye.

When this is the case, the right eye can be considered the dominant one when wearing trial contacts. You can switch to the left one to see if it feels more comfortable. Every two out of three individuals are right-eye dominant.

Monovision LASIK Procedure

Monovision LASIK is similar to standard LASIK when it comes to the actual procedure. The cost of the procedure is also the same. Lasers are used to correct the lens to the desired shape or size. The main difference in the procedure is the time that it takes to adapt after the surgery. Apart from healing the eyes, the brain will need to adapt to monovision, something that can take weeks or even months.

To know more about the ideal candidates for monovision LASIK, visit Coastal Vision Medical Group. Our offices are in Chino Ave, Irvine, Long Beach, Norco, and Orange, California. You can call (888) 501-4496 today to schedule an appointment.