Monovision laser vision correction is an excellent option for people over 40 years of age. Monovision LASIK is FDA approved for people who wish to minimize their need to wear glasses for both reading and distance.
If you read the medical literature, at about forty years of age, plus or minus two years, all of us begin to lose our ability to focus at near. The medical term for this is presbyopia; it is a normal part of the maturation process. Tasks which we used to take for granted, and which used to be easy, such as reading a menu, or our watch become both challenging and frustrating.
What is monovision?
Monovision is a technique in which your dominant eye (the eye you would view through while taking a picture with a camera) is put in focus for distance and your non-dominant eye is put in focus for near (or reading) vision. People have been enjoying this for over forty years using contact lenses. Dr. Muller has been providing Monovision Laser Vision Correction for her patients for three decades (first as an “off-label’ use of the excimer laser, and more recently as an FDA approved procedure). These patients are amongst her happiest patients.
Every treatment in Dr. Muller’s office is completely customized to each individual’s needs and desires. Each person undergoes a contact lens trial in which he or she wears the contact lenses which mimic the intended laser treatment. Don’t worry if you have no experience with contact lenses, Dr. Muller has a great, simple approach to this. By partaking in this contact lens trial, each person has the opportunity to “try out”, or experience his or her laser treatment before it’s actually performed. Once an individual feels they love the contact lens prescription he/she is wearing, then that correction can be lasered onto his or her eyes thereby freeing that person from glasses and contact lenses to the greatest extent possible. This type of contact lens trial helps ensure that each person will get the visual result they desire and also helps identify any person who doesn’t feel comfortable with monovision.
Approximately 94% of people adapt readily to monovision after a brief acclamation period. The technical term for this is neural adaptation. Simply stated, this means that the brain readily adapts to the eyes being in focus for two different distances; the individual enjoys being able to see well in the distance, while also being able to readily read something at near. This is one of the ways in which excimer laser technology is helping to enhance the quality of people’s lives by recapturing their sense of youth, freedom, vitality, and functionality.
Is monovision for you? Call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Muller to find out.
What is Modified Monovision?
Modified monovision differs from full monovision in that there is less disparity between your two eyes with modified monovision. Modified monovision has proven to be an excellent option for people in their late thirties, forties and fifties. With modified monovision, Dr. Muller’s goal is to obtain as close to 20/20, or better, visual acuity in your dominant (distance) eye while purposefully leaving a small amount of myopia (under-correction) on your non-dominant eye. The degree of under-correction is discussed, determined and agreed upon by you and Dr. Muller prior to your treatment. Dr. Muller will discuss and consider your visual needs, your goals, profession, hobbies, etc. Together, you and Dr. Muller customize a treatment plan to maximally liberate you from your glasses and contact lenses.
One of the main benefits of modified monovision is that it can forestall your need to wear glasses for reading and near work. The length of time for which you can forestall your need to wear reading glasses is determined by varying the degree to which you would like Dr. Muller to under-correct your non-dominant eye.
Another benefit to modified monovision is that you enjoy the preservation of your intermediate, or middle vision. This distance is very important as this is the distance of your plate of food while eating, your dashboard while driving, your desk top computer, etc. This middle distance is extremely functional thus preserving it is both practical and beneficial and has been greatly appreciated and valued by Dr. Muller’s patients.
Modified monovision is generally very easily and readily accepted by all. This is because the difference in vision between the two eyes is subtle enough that most people are completely unaware of it as they walk around with two eyes open.
Over the last three decades of performing laser vision correction, Dr. Muller’s patients have enjoyed the benefits of modified monovision immensely.
Vuity
With or without Laser Vision Correction, if you are "more mature" and experiencing presbyopia (difficulty focusing up close) Dr. Muller can prescribe an eyedrop known as Vuity.
Vuity is a prescription eyedrop (pilocarpine HCl 1.25%) which decreases the diameter of your pupils thus increasing your depth of focus, allowing you to see up close/read better. Vuity may reduce, eliminate, or postpone your need to wear reading glasses.
