Adjusting to mini monovision after cataract surgery

CaroZim,

I am not sure if having monovision is the main reason for you not passing the eye test. It is probably because while the vision with your distance eye is a lot better than before the surgery, it may not be 20/20.

I have used monovision (the left eye for reading and the right eye for distance) for the last 30 years, first with contact lenses and then with IOLs, and have never had any issue with the eye test. The main thing is to have good distance vision in at least 1 eye.

I failed the test because I couldn't see the right hand side letters when looking through the machine.  The left hand side letters I could see using only my left eye, the middle letters I could see with both eyes (because my left eye is set for distance) but using my right eye only I couldn't see anything because the right eye is set for close up and so it can't see letters in the distance.

The guy said I'd failed the test because I couldn't see clearly through my right eye.  He let it go though because I said I currently didn't drive (I live in Singapore and can't afford to own a car!) and that I would get glasses for driving in the future when my eyes had fully settled.  The test was done in New Zealand so maybe the laws are different there.

I personally don't think I need glasses for driving though as I can see perfectly in the distance - only possible problem would be if my left eye somehow got blocked and I only had my right eye available.  Having said that I will get glasses for night time driving as my vision is worse at night so it's better to be safe than sorry.  

It seems that the vision test machines in New Zealand are different from those in USA, where they test the vision with the eyes working together than rather than one at a time.

You have to do what you have to do (i.e., get glasses as needed) to pass the driving test. However, you may even find that driving with glasses is harder for you than without glasses, because while you can see a little better in the distance, the instruments are not as clear as you may like. Any way, when the time comes for your driving, you will figure out the best combination for yourself.

My driver's license here in California expires in July, though it may get auto-renewed like the last time several years ago.

If I have to renew it, it will be interesting if I take the DMV eye test with only my right eye corrected for distance with a monofocal toric IOL.

I found this info from the DMV license renewal FAQ:

Do I need to report Lasik or similar vision surgery?

2A. DMV's vision screening standard is at least 20/40 when both eyes are tested together, and at least 20/70 in the weaker eye. If you recently had surgery to correct one eye for distance and the other for close-up vision, you may not meet the screening standard, and must renew your driver license in person at a DMV office.

My driver's license here in California expires in July, though it may get auto-renewed like the last time several years ago.

If I have to renew it, it will be interesting if I take the DMV eye test with only my right eye corrected for distance with a monofocal toric IOL.

 

Hi there, If I remember correctly you are the one who is really good with the prescription numbers. First week post op on my second (left) eye this is my prescription

OD              -1.00 (sphere) +0.25 (cylinder) 075' (axis)

OS              plano (sphere) +0.50 (cylinder) 180' (axis)

I haven't the foggiest, except I think plano means no prescription right? When they did the refractive test none of the options made my eyesight in my most recently operated eye any better. All lenses were blurry. 

Remember, when they did my right eye (dominant eye) they didn't quite achieve the distance and I ended up at 20/40. I'm concerned with this because I'm not comfortable driving with the vision I have currently. Hence, he gave me a script.

I appreciate your help

Diane

Your latest prescription indicates indeed you are -1D nearsighted in your right eye, so 20/40 or so distance vision would be expected in that eye without eyeglasses.

Your left eye plano is indeed no correction needed for distance, and the astigmatism (cylinder) is quite low so I'd expect 20/25 or better distance vision in that eye - its similar to the prescription I have in my right eye after cataract surgery.

So if your left eye is still blurry and its still early (only a week or so after surgery) your cornea probably needs more healing time, so give it time at least a few weeks after you can stop the Rx eyedrops. My own eye vision didn't improve and stabilize until a couple weeks after I could stop the eyedrops, so nearly 2 months after surgery.

If you are getting near 20/20 in your left eye and about 20/40 in your right (dominant) eye and having difficulty with both eyes together it could be due to not having the good distance vision in your dominant eye.  I know I tried mini-monovision with contacts both ways a few  years ago and it was only comfortable vision with both eyes if my dominant eye was the one set for distance.  Though it may be possible to get used to it the other way after weeks or months.

But you should get a pair of eyeglasses to get both eyes corrected for good distance vision for driving anyway.

I basically agree with the answer, which Night-Hawk has already given you a few minutes back.

Firstly, the good part. I think that once the vision in your left eye settles down, you will be very happy with the end results. The astigmatism in your left eye is quite low. So, unless it increases significantly as your vision settles down, you should be able to see 20/20 or at least 20/25 in that eye. Please keep on using the eye drops which the doctor has suggested. In addition, it will be a good idea to keep lubricant eye drops a few times a day (even if you don't feel other symptoms of dry eyes). I know that in my case, use of such eye drops made a huge difference in the goodness of my vision. Many people (including me) have also found taking one or two fish oil capsules a day very helpful, depending on the specific reason for having dry eyes.

Once the left eye settles down, you should have good vision from about 26 inches to far, which is a good range to have and makes it easy to live without glasses, except for needing glasses to read fine print at 16-18 inches. Also, you will find it easy to adjust to the mini-monovision, which you have.

While the left eye is healing, you may want to get an inexpensive pair of glasses for driving. Even if you don't need those glasses any more in a month or so, spending $70 to $80 may be worth having the ability to drive in the interim period.

Night-Hawk and at201, thank you for that input. I knew you both would understand that script. Which number indicates astigmatism? I was under the impression I had no astigmatism. 

I'm hoping I can adjust to this new vision, because I had Lasik all those years ago so that I wouldn't have to wear glasses.

Your cylindrical correction numbers indicate the degree of your astigmatism. If those numbers are not more than 0.5D, as in your case, the amount of astigmatism is considered to be small and nothing to worry about. One can easily have that much variation during the day.

Most probably, you won't have to wear glasses except for reading.