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Monofocal Lens Experiences?

Posted , 10 users are following.

indygeo
indygeo

Hi All, 

I'm still in the decision stage on my left affected eye and I am wondering if some of you out there who've had monofocal lenses implanted could share your experiences with them?  I'm looking to find out if there's any degree of intermediate and even reading distance vision you may have achieved with them and how you find them generally.  Were you surprised after surgery how good your vision was?  Did you have a less than expected experience?   My father had both eyes done with monofocal lenses and he seems pretty happy with them and says he doesn't need glasses most of the time.  He said he can even do crossword puzzles without glasses.  Would love to hear your stories.  Thanks. 

G

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • michael74313
    michael74313 indygeo

    Posted

    I love them and almost never need glasses.  After my first eye was done, I had a very difficult time with any near vision while intermediate and distance were fine.  My doctor set the second eye in 1/2 diopter from distance for a mini-monovision to get a better all around range of vision.  I did not want full mono vision for several reasons and most can't tolerate it anyways. Both eyes working together now see very well at all distances.  I did have to learn to start holding print further out from my face (about 16 inches) rather than prior to surgery where I would read things within 5 inches away which is what I was used to (very nearsighted at the time).

     

  • CaroZim
    CaroZim indygeo

    Posted

    I had Tecnis monofocals (torics) implanted on 26 Jan and 9 Feb this year.  I currently have monovision of 0 in left eye and -2.25 in right eye - not expecting it to change much.

    Distance is amazing and I barely notice the monovision blur from the right eye although it's more noticeable in low light situations (dusk/dawn).  I don't have any night time issues with distance - vision is amazingly clear at night - I suspect I could get away with driving at night without glasses (although I don't drive at the moment because I live in Singapore and can't afford (and don't need) a car!).

    Intermediate I need computer glasses - I can actually see my computer but it's blurred and I think I'd get a headache if I didn't use computer glasses (this was my compromise so I'm okay with it).

    Close up I'm still struggling with a bit - I can read on my phone from about 30cm away but I do notice the blur from the left eye and it's worse in low light (don't want to turn the phone/iPad up bright at night because then I get the blue light problems that reportedly negatively impact on sleep).  This will take time - it is already getting noticeably better though so I'm confident that I will adjust over the next few months.

    Hope that helps!

    • indygeo
      indygeo CaroZim

      Posted

      CaroZim,  Your reply is indeed helpful.   Your surgery was quite recent and maybe things will even get better for you as your brain adjusts.   Are you happy overall with the outcome overall?  It seems like your situation is very similar to mine.  I'd like to get distance fixed in the left eye and maintain my right reading eye and hopefully get a reasonable outcome.   I wouldn't mind wearing glasses occasionally for reading I think.. that's really my objective.   Ugh...so hard to make a decision! 

      G

    • CaroZim
      CaroZim indygeo

      Posted

      Yes I am happy with what I've got although it was a tough decision deciding which option to go for.  I nearly went with close and intermediate with far being the compromise because at this moment in my life I do a lot of work on the computer.  Wearing computer glasses most of the day at work is a bit of a pain - I won't lie!  Should be better once I get progressives and can see everything properly with just one pair - I won't have to keep taking them off to see distance.

      However, I hope to go home (Zimbabwe) in about 3 years time and set up my own business.  Once I stop my current  job as a secondary teacher I hopefully won't spend nearly as much time on the computer as I currently do and so in the end I went with distance and close.  I considered the implications of not being able to see clearly into the distance and decided that in the future I would need distance and close up more than intermediate.

      It's not an easy decision to make so you really need to get it right!

       

    • Sue.An
      Sue.An CaroZim

      Posted

      Wishing you safe travels and all the best in your new business venture.

      Yes deciding on which compromise isn’t easy.   One adapts with time.

    • CaroZim
      CaroZim Sue.An

      Posted

      Thanks!  It's a way off yet, but good to have goals and dreams!

  • Polyphemos
    Polyphemos indygeo

    Posted

    I had monofocals implanted in both eyes one week apart in late January 2018.- toric in LE and non-toric in RE.  LE surgery went very well and ended up with excellent distance vision (20/20) and no myopia or astigmatism post-op. RE was targeted for -1.50 diopters (mini monovision or blended vision as you please) to give me good near vision. Achieved result came very close to target. I have clear vision at distance (TV, driving) and near (reading) but the intermediate has been compromised. I can get by for short spells on the computer but will likely need some correction (eyeglasses) for long-term work sessions. On Feb 28 I am scheduled for my 1+ month postop exam and will see where things have landed.  And no severe night-time issues. Overall quite satisfied with my results.      
    • indygeo
      indygeo Polyphemos

      Posted

      Ah that's great to hear Plyphemos! I'm glad you're happy with the results.  Sounds like a good one!

      G

    • lynne75659
      lynne75659 Polyphemos

      Posted

      Hello, Polyphemos. Glad to hear you are happy with your outcome.  I'm trying to decide what degree, or perhaps no degree, of mini monovision to request for my surgery, and also, whether to go with a Technis toric monodical, which I'd need for both eyes. Did you receive a Technis toric in your left eye?  Thanks for your response.

    • lynne75659
      lynne75659

      Posted

      Oops, sorry. I meant "monofocal", not  "monodical." 

    • Polyphemos
      Polyphemos lynne75659

      Posted

      Hi Lynne. I went with Tecnis monofocals - toric in LE (had more than 1.5D of astigmatism) and non-toric in RE (surgeon decided toric not required for my 1.1D of astigmatism). LE (dominant) was set for distance; RE was targeted for -1.5D (slightly myopic on purpose). Today I went for my 1-month postop exam. LE is plano (no myopia/no astigmatism). RE settled at -1.25D which gives me near focal point at 80 cms (32 inches). Some people have problems adjusting to differences

      of more than 2D. Keeping it under 2D you increase your chances to adapt to (mini) monovision.

      Note 1: the surgeon makes the final decision on need to use toric lens or not. 

      Note 2: you can discuss your "near" eye target with surgeon but keep in mind they do not always hit the target.

      To boost my computer and reading vision, the optometrist gave me this "computer" prescription:

      RE: -1.50 sph / +0.50 cyl / 100 axis

      LE: plano (no prescription required)

      Reading: +2.00

      I hope my comments help you.

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