Monovision correction involves fitting one eye for near vision and the other for distance vision. Determining the appropriate lens powers for each eye is a process that involves a thorough assessment of an individual’s visual needs and refractive errors. This typically begins with a standard eye exam to determine the refractive error of each eye. Trial lenses are then used to simulate monovision, allowing the patient to experience the effect and providing feedback to the eye care professional. The process often involves incremental adjustments to the power of the near-vision lens until optimal visual acuity is achieved at both near and far distances while maintaining acceptable binocular vision and minimizing any discomfort. The dominant eye is usually corrected for distance, while the non-dominant eye is corrected for near.
This approach offers a potential solution for presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision focusing ability. By strategically correcting each eye for a different focal length, individuals can often regain functional vision at both near and far distances without the need for reading glasses or bifocals/multifocals. The success of this method depends on the individual’s ability to adapt to the difference in focus between the two eyes, a process called neural adaptation. While monovision provides a convenient alternative to other correction methods, it is not suitable for everyone, and some individuals may experience reduced depth perception or difficulty with intermediate vision.
