What is monovision?
Monovision is achieved by correcting one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. Your brain naturally blends the two images, giving you functional vision at multiple distances without constantly reaching for glasses.
Monovision, one eye corrected to see in the distance and the other eye corrected for near, can be achieved by:
- Contact lenses
- A corrective laser eye surgery procedure such as SMILE pro or LASIK
- With intraocular (IOL) lenses following an RLE or cataract surgery procedure
Monovision is very useful for day to day near tasks; reading your phone, reading a menu, reading price tags however there may be certain situations when an optional pair of spectacles could be beneficial. For prolonged periods of near work or doing a fine detailed task at close range you may find specific reading glasses beneficial to balance both eyes for near tasks. Likewise sometimes you may prefer to optimise your distance vision by wearing prescription glasses that balance the eyes for clear distance vision in both eyes such as driving at night or driving when it is raining or driving on the open road.
Who is monovision suitable for?
Monovision is typically recommended for people in their mid 40’s onwards who are developing or are noticing presbyopia, the natural age related inability to focus up close. It’s an option worth considering if you:
- Prefer to minimise or avoid reading glasses
- Are comfortable with a small compromise in depth perception
- Have trialled monovision with contact lenses (recommended before surgical correction)
In discussion with you your eye surgeon can assess whether monovision is a good match for your lifestyle and visual needs.
What to expect
- Adaptation Time: Most people adjust within days to weeks, though some may take longer.
- Everyday benefits: The vast majority of people experience freedom from or significantly reduced reliance on reading glasses for everyday tasks.
Is monovision right for you?
Monovision isn’t the best fit for everyone. Some people prefer equal clarity in both eyes or notice reduced depth perception. If monovision is recommended for you and is something you wish to consider achieving, we recommend a trial with contact lenses to simulate monovision. We may be able to offer a contact lens trial or liaise with your optometrist for a contact lens trial to simulate monovision.