Monovision LASIK is a viable solution to the vision demands of people over age 40 who are affected by presbyopia, according to Elizabeth A. Davis, MD.
Dr. Davis, a Minnesota refractive surgeon, shared her thoughts about the procedure with ophthalmologists gathered at OSN New York 2009, an educational conference sponsored by Ocular Surgery News this month in New York.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a normal age-related change in the eye that reduces near focusing ability, forcing older individuals to wear bifocals or reading glasses.
Standard vs. monovision LASIK
Standard LASIK surgery corrects refractive errors — nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism — but it does not address the loss of near vision caused by presbyopia.
Monovision LASIK is a variation of the laser vision correction procedure wherein the eye surgeon fully corrects the refractive error of one eye for good distance vision and intentionally leaves the other (usually non-dominant) eye mildly nearsighted to improve near vision.
Keys to monovision LASIK success
Motivated patients who have reasonable expectations and receive proper pre-operative counseling about the benefits and limitations of the procedure tend to do well with monovision LASIK, according to Dr. Davis.
The primary benefit of monovision LASIK is the ability to see acceptably well up close without reading glasses. Patients with the best monovision outcomes can expect to be free from eyeglasses at least 85 percent of their day, said Dr. Davis.
Limitations of monovision LASIK include mildly reduced distance vision, near vision or both, especially in dim lighting.
A successful monovision outcome usually requires the refractive error of the dominant eye to be fully corrected so the patient can see 20/20 or better in the distance without glasses.
Because excellent distance vision is essential for patient satisfaction, people who undergo monovision LASIK are more likely to need a follow-up laser treatment (called an enhancement) of one or both eyes than patients who have standard LASIK surgery, says Dr. Davis.
Whether you decide to undergo LASIK, presby-LASIK eye surgery, PRK or any other refractive procedure, carefully research your surgeon’s background and inquire about the pros and cons of each treatment. In addition, ask about laser eye surgery cost and the available payment plans.
SOURCE: Monovision can provide good near acuity for motivated LASIK patients. Ocular Surgery News website (OSNSuperSite.com). September 28, 2009.
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