Monovision

[Kevy Baby]

OK - I've accepted that I am getting older (42 as of last November) and I get to deal with changes to my body. On Saturday, I visited the eye doctor and one of he things we discussed was the fact that reading isn't as easy as it used to be (I've purchased the drug-store readers for use at home).

Since I already wear contacts, the doctor suggested trying monovision. This is basically where you set your dominant eye to to the prescription for distance and the other eye to the prescription for reading (close). From one web site (http://www.stlukeseye.com/eyeq/Monovision.asp) I found:

Monovision addresses the problem of presbyopia that most people start to encounter at the age of 40-45 when they begin to need reading glasses or bifocals for close vision. With monovision, the dominant eye (the eye you would use to focus a camera) is focused for distance vision, and the non-dominant eye is focused for near to intermediate vision. This can be done with contact lenses, refractive surgery or intraocular lenses.

Monovision certainly isn’t appropriate for everyone. However, when paired with the right person, it can be a great fit. Monovision is a blend of near and distance vision, and is ideal for people with an active lifestyle. However, there is a caveat to consider: since it is a compromise, most people’s vision isn’t perfectly crisp up close or far away. Instead, it offers the best of both worlds. Since my distance prescription is -5.5 and my reading prescription is +1.5, I am currently wearing a -5.5 contact in my left eye (my dominant eye) and a -4.0 contact in my right eye.

And it is quite odd.

I am slowly getting used to it (my doctor gave me a pair of -5.5 contacts in case monovision didn't work for me). They also have a pair of bifocal contacts on order to try that as well. Basically, the goal of both of these options is to help avoid having to wear glasses. Not something I asked for and the doctor didn't say it, but that is what this the goal is. I really don't care, but I figured that I would at least give it a try (from a convenience perspective - I don't give a rip about vanity).

But my initial feedback is that I am not a big fan of monovision. I still haven't got used to it for driving. It doesn't help while I am on the computer (the distance to my screen is about 24" at work and about 18" at home). Reading is the only place it might make a difference, so we will see.

Anybody else play with this?

[lashbear]

I'm a bit one-eyed, but that's it.

[Babette]

My friend has monovision, too. She said it was really weird at first, but after a couple weeks, she didn't even notice anymore. It would blurr everything momentarily everytime she switched between near and far, but not anymore.

Glasses are so cool these days. You can find many swanky styles and colors. I love wearing mine, but the contacts are nice for times when I don't want to worry about scratching and flinging off.

[CoasterMatt]

Oh man, if you start wearing glasses, people'll really get us mixed up :)

[Kevy Baby]

Oh man, if you start wearing glasses, people'll really get us mixed up :)Would I have to start screaming on roller coasters?

[CoasterMatt]

No joke, I was having serious jaw pain yesterday, so I started screaming until I heard a "pop", and I've been fine ever since.
I know there's yogic laughing, but what about screaming?

[€uroMeinke]

When I wear contacts I do the mono-vision thing and I'm cool with that, but I find I prefer wearing my progressive lens glasses better

[Kevy Baby]

When I wear contacts I do the mono-vision thing and I'm cool with that, but I find I prefer wearing my progressive lens glasses betterIt helps that you have some VERY swank specs!

If I were to get glasses, they would be for medium and close (reading) vision only. I like the freedom of my contacts.

I have some glasses for backup right now, although 1) they are pretty old and very weak for my needs, and 2) painfully geeky. They remind me of the glasses that Christy Wills wore - she was the girlfriend of Michael J Fox's character in Secret of My Success (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093936/)

[Not Afraid]

I just got mono vision contacts. I love them with reading, but I am having problems with the computer. But, I haven't been using a normal computer set up lately. I tend to drag my laptop to any part of the house. by the end of a session, my back hurts and my eyes are blury.

I LOVE my new progressive lense glasses though.

[Alex]

You all are old.

[Kevy Baby]

You all are old.Bite me

[Alex]

Old flesh is too gamy.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

You all are old.

I'll file this one away for future use.

[Prudence]

I'll probably never go back to contacts. They were such a pain to deal with, and because my prescription is so extreme it makes contacts heavy enough that they ride up into the "right" spot with each blink, and then fall back down to a lower position. It was like having old man pants in my eyes. Except that it hurt. Glasses are so much easier. Plus, it means I can glare over the top of them for effect.

[Alex]

I'll file this one away for future use.

Presumably, by the time I'm old (though I still expect to die before that happens) all the current oldies will be dead or too forgetful to be amused by anything other than the occasional pleasant warmth in their crotch that seems to annoy the nurses. (I tease out of affection; and because their old bones can't catch me.)

Plus, I loved wearing glasses (99% of the time) and won't really be upset when I have to go back to wearing them.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I stopped wearing my glasses when I was about 18 or so. There's not much they can do for me, but one day, when I either get insurance or become an ilegal alien I should see where I stand.

Its interesting to see where they've become. When I wore glasses, the lenses were so thick. I"m sure now-a-days it wouldn't be that bad...

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Presumably, by the time I'm old (though I still expect to die before that happens) all the current oldies will be dead or too forgetful to be amused by anything other than the occasional pleasant warmth in their crotch that seems to annoy the nurses. (I tease out of affection; and because their old bones can't catch me.)


I'm training the new DreadPirateRoberts as we speak.

[scaeagles]

Why not go the surgical route? I know many people who have done various types of laser surgeries, my wife inckuded, and have never regretted it. It is pricey, no doubt, but her eyes never hurt anymore like they did with contacts, and honestly it will pay for itself eventually with not having to purchase contacts, cleaning fluid, saline.....

This coming from someone who has never needed glasses nor contacts, so it's easy for me to talk about how wonderful it is having someone cut your eyes with a laser.

[Alex]

The first thing they tell you when you go in for LASIK (if that is the surgival route you mean) is that it will not help with your need for reading glasses and will not significantly delay that day if you don't yet need them.

To me, if you're still going to have to wear glasses or contacts after the surgery it doesn't make much sense.

I loved my eye surgery. If for no other reason that getting to wait and watch the surgeries before me. It's good stuff.

[MouseWife]

Ha, you tease out of affection. :p

I've worn glasses to see far since about the 6th grade. I have worn contacts, great for when I go to Disneyland and like to wear sunglasses but not so good when indoors and shopping {I don't need them at this time and they more mess up my vision}.

When I turned 40, right after maybe, I did start to have to hold the pennies farther.

I don't want to bother with contacts. I do like my glasses. They probably look like the ones you talk about, Kevy Baby. This is my second pair of 'geeky' glasses. My first pair was a little more thin, probably less geeky. That was about 4 years ago and right when they were coming out. I took a lot of grief {and a lot of compliments, too} about them but I do love them.

I used to love the cat eye glasses back in high school, too, but only for going dancing. ;)

I really don't want to hear more about growing old. I am not in a very good mood for that today.

Besides, none of the people I met at the Lashbear meet were old, needed canes or seeing eye dogs, had to stop to breathe or had gamy looking skin.

None. :snap:

[lindyhop]

I love my contacts and I hate wearing glasses so I jumped at the suggestion of monovision as soon as my eye doctor mentioned it. It took me no time at all to get used to it but that had a lot to do with how much I hate wearing glasses. The last time I got new glasses I tried going for some cool narrow frames but the woman helping me took a look at my prescription and said no way. I'm too blind I guess.

As far as I'm concerned monovision is the only way to go.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I am one lucky son of a bitch. I think I'm the only person in my immediate, and even slightly extended family, that has made it into the late 20s without need for glasses (save for the pair of flat pieces of glass I was prescribed once because the optometrist knew I had insurance). Don't know how long my luck will hold out, but here's hoping.

[Betty]

I only wear my glasses at work because my eye began twitching. Although the doc said the glasses wouldn't help with that (stress?) my eye hasn't twitched since.

They are so swanky too - glad I got the pricey ones as they've lastes for a few years. They make me feel smart!

[scaeagles]

The first thing they tell you when you go in for LASIK (if that is the surgival route you mean) is that it will not help with your need for reading glasses and will not significantly delay that day if you don't yet need them.

She had a similar surgery called EpiLASIK. And true, they did tell her that. However, it would seem that the advantage in this case would be to make the eyes equal and limit the necessary vision correction to reading only.

Similar to GD, I have also been fortunate as the only one in my family who has not required correction (though in the last couple years I have started wearing a slight magnification while at the comuter at work), and I'm pushing 40.

[Snowflake]

Its interesting to see where they've become. When I wore glasses, the lenses were so thick. I"m sure now-a-days it wouldn't be that bad...

Nope, Borneo, you're right, they're not bad. I had the proverbial coke-bottle lenses as a kid, wore contacts for years until I ruiined my corneas, now back to specs and wearing wire rims or invisible rims, no problems, and they're feather light. Not like the heavy 3lb glasses I wore as a kid.

Back to monovision, yes, I'm old (in years) and am needing a new presciption, I'm thinking progressive lenses are in my immediate future.