Monnett Eye & Optical Center

Monovision is an alternative to bifocal contact lenses for correction of presbyopia. When this technique is used, one eye is focused for near vision and the other eye is focused for distance vision. With Monovision, patients experience a period of adjustment where the brain determines which eye to use for which task. Once this period is over, most people no longer require glasses or contact lenses.

With monovision, the eye that sees well for distance vision will be slightly blurred up close and the eye that sees well up close will be slightly blurred when looking at distant objects. But with both eyes open, typically the result is acceptably clear and comfortable vision at all distances.

One eye focuses on objects nearby while the other focuses on distance objects

The downside of monovision is that some people will find that it compromises the clarity of their distance vision, making distant objects appear slightly blurred. Others may find that it does not provide adequate near vision to give them the freedom from reading glasses they were hoping for.

While monovision may appear to be an unusual choice, most people adjust well to it, and eventually don't even notice which eye is their "distance eye" and which is their "near eye."

Other types of refractive errors include: Nearsightedness, Farsightedness and Astigmatism.

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