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 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]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

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]

Originally Posted by €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

It 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

[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.