Anyone try Monovision without trial/tests?
Posted , 3 users are following.
My doctor didn't seem to think that a trial for monovision using contacts would be very useful since my cataracts affect my vision too much. I brought in my old glasses prescriptions for him to see, and they range between 0.75 and 1.75D difference between my 2 eyes for the last 10 years, with most years exceeding 1.25, and I've never worn the glasses except to drive. He said that he didn't think that 1.25 D difference in targets for monovision would be a problem. Has anyone ever gotten monovision without doing a trial first? I've seen articles by doctors who routinely use 1.25 difference in targets without trials, but it's a little nerve-wracking when you hear the horror stories from people who have trouble adapting. (LALs aren't really an option.)
0 likes, 4 replies
RonAKA lucy24197
Posted
While it is best to do a trial with contacts, if your cataracts are so bad that you can't see well, it may not be a worthwhile exercise. The fact that you have tolerated up to 1.75 D difference without glasses correcting it does suggest you will not be bothered by it. My trials with contacts suggest that 1.25 to 1.5 is the sweet spot with 1.25 being a little better than 1.5. And 2.0 is too much for me. That is what I have with no glasses or contacts now, and I don't really like it. I can manage to do most things, but it is not really comfortable.
lucy24197 RonAKA
Posted
That helps. I've never noticed any problem from the difference in the eyes. I could never catch a baseball, but for the things I do it's been fine, and I've never had to wear glasses except for distance. I'm planning to shoot for a 1.25 delta to be more on the safe side. Right now the plan is to target -0.5 far and -1.75 near. One of the things I want to ask them tomorrow is how they manage tolerances with IOLs coming in 0.5 increments. To my way of thinking a -0.5 target means a lens selection that should fall between -0.25 and -0.75, but they may think differently. I'm getting the far (worse) eye done first, then I can try some reading glasses on the "new & improved" eye to see what the world looks like in the near range with a -1.25 difference, -1.5, etc. with an iol and no accomodation. Who knows, I might love the -0.5 range and get both eyes set for that. There's no way to know what it will be like until after the surgery. Very scary, but I'm really ready to be able to drive myself again, and my vision is going downhill in a hurry.
RonAKA lucy24197
Posted
I would suggest a target of -0.25 D for the distance eye. If there is any risk of going to the + side then perhaps target as much as -0.5 D. -0.5D should be the max not the target. On the other eye it is normal to target the amount of myopia. I would suggest a range of -1.25 to -1.5 D. You need to target a range because of the 0.5 D steps that the IOL comes in. If you go over -1.5 then your distance and to some degree the intermediate vision starts to suffer. Your other eye will compensate, but it is nice to see reasonably in the distance with the closer eye.
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You are wise to do the far eye (dominant ideally) first to see what you get.
Sue.An2 lucy24197
Posted
You are right to be concerned about the difference between eyes when IOLs come in .50 diopters and the healing process can also give you + or - .25. perhaps your surgeon takes that into account and aims for 1.00 diopter to be on safe side.
There are definite advantages to having both eyes targeted the same. Some people do get more range than others with monofocal IOLs so once you get one eye done you'll have a better idea what you prefer. Hopefully 2nd eye is jot being done too close to 1st surgery. It takes 6 weeks for eye to heal and vision to stabilize.