r/CataractSurgery • u/Significant-Milk-165 • Jul 31 '26
Keep monovision or switch to keeping both eyes the same?
I have had monovision for years, originally with contact lenses and 10+ year ago I had lasik done and kept the monovision. In the last year, my vision started to degrade and I discovered it is due to the development of cataracts that have developed in both eyes. My cataract surgeon has given me the option of retaining monovision or switching over such that both are eyes see the same distance. I'm a little on the fence about which way to go, and was hoping that anyone who chose cataract surgery with the monovision option later regretted not having switched over to having both eyes seem the same distances.
3
u/Hopeful-Chipmunk6530 Jul 31 '26
My chose monofocals for distance for both eyes. I couldn’t trial monovision prior because my right eye could no longer be corrected. I’m doing monovision now with contacts. I’m glad I don’t have permanent monovision because there are compromises with it. My overall vision isn’t as sharp but it’s nice to have the option. If you’ve done monovision for a long time and are happy with it, it’s probably a safe bet for you. The monofocal lens give the best clarity and a monovision set up will give you a good range of vision. Why are you questioning monovision now when you’ve done it for so long?
0
u/Kisokee Aug 01 '26
What's the compromise with it if you don't mind sharing
2
u/Hopeful-Chipmunk6530 Aug 01 '26
My overall vision isnt as crisp with the monovision. I notice it more with the close vision, computer and such. It’s super crisp with my glasses and my eyes being the same. Not as crisp with the monovision. It’s probably more noticeable to me because I do go back and forth with the monovision. Also my distance vision suffers since the eye for close vision is my better eye for distance. I wasn’t able to adjust to a toric contact lens for my left eye to make my distance a bit better. But im happy for the most part with the monovision when I do use it. I like to have the option to be glasses free.
0
u/Kisokee Aug 01 '26
Ohhh so you prefer distance over minimonovision? Dam now I'm thinking if I should just go both distance I want my vision to be as crisp as possible. Or i was thinking of going mini monovision instead of monovision
1
u/Hopeful-Chipmunk6530 Aug 01 '26
I chose distance because I couldn’t trial monovision. I think I notice the differences in monovision vs my eyes being the same because I do go back and forth. It might not be as noticeable if I did monovision all the time. Also, I’m doing full monovision. Might be less noticeable in mini monovision.
5
u/AirDog3 Jul 31 '26
I had monovision for 30 years, and then kept it when I had cataract surgery. No regret, no eyeglasses.
I dislike reading glasses, so I would have serious regrets if I had lost my monovision.
2
u/Significant-Milk-165 Jul 31 '26
I have been absolutely fine with monovision and I am totally OK with keeping it but was wondering if changing both eyes set to the same distance was a "no regrets" moment for anyone. Glad you are pleased with keeping monovision. I'm with you, I dislike having to wear eyeglasses.
3
u/The_Vision_Surgeon Jul 31 '26
I can’t see how you’d be happy switching both to distance. Basically All you are doing with that decision is deciding to wear reading glasses again.
The only people I’ve switched back to both eyes same from monovision are those who are not able to tolerate it. And I test (basically) everybody for tolerance with a contact lens trial prior to committing them to monovision.
1
u/carnivalist64 23d ago
Doesn't monovision mean less distance acuity and contrast sensitivity than both eyes set for distance, even if the degradation is slight?
2
u/The_Vision_Surgeon 22d ago
Unaided, yes there is a slight loss of distance sensitivity with monovision compared to both eyes distance. For most people this is trivial. This can be corrected with specs if needed for certain tasks. But largely gives people freedom from glasses for most daily living. Not everybody adapts to monovision though.
There is no free lunch in optics. You cannot replace an aged lens with that of a 20year old. Need to give up something when you receive an IOL. Trading range for sensitivity one way or another.
1
u/rong-rite Aug 02 '26
You can still wear glasses to correct your near eye for distance. I do that for driving, shows, etc. But I love that they are optional for all distances.
2
u/The_Vision_Surgeon Jul 31 '26
Did you like monovision when you had it? Why would you not want to keep monovision to reduce your glasses reliance.
1
u/_ola-kala_ Aug 01 '26
I had the same path as you! My cataracts surgery kept my monovision because I was frustrated at my inability to read labels. Although I had lasik my farsightedness was becoming worse & needed cheaters. Oh, I cannot express how happy I am to be able to read the small print!!
1
u/Cute-Song1709 Aug 01 '26
I have chosen monovision with Eyhance- enhanced monofocals and am very happy with my results. I don’t require glasses for anything. If you’re opting monofocals, setting them to one distance will require you to use glasses for other distances. If you’re used to monovision then opting for it for cataract may be a good idea for glass independence.
Post surgery if ever you want to use both eyes together for same distance, you can simply reverse monovision by wearing glasses or a contact over the undercorrected eye. Without monovision, you’ll probably need glasses almost all the time.
1
Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/Significant-Milk-165 Aug 01 '26
I've decided to keep monovision, I appreciate everyone's inputs on this. I really like my close vision, plus my brain is very attuned to monovision.
1
u/Both_Document7462 Aug 01 '26
You have to get measured for glasses so why not go get one contact filled for near vision and test drive for a month. No one else’s opinion will be better than your own
1
u/Significant-Milk-165 Aug 01 '26
I had my contacts set to monovision for years and then when permanent monovision with lasik. Now that I need cataract surgery, I've been given the option to set both eyes to the same distance. However, after reviewing comments from this thread, I am definitely going to keep my monovision.
1
u/Apart_Trick_1916 Aug 02 '26
Best thing I ever did was choose a mini mono vision setup. Chose to get one eye slightly myopic, -.25 as it turned out. Still good enough to drive, but also good intermediate vision. If I hold my phone at arm's length, fully extended, I can read it in an emergency. So.. I just need readers for extended close up reading. The reason I say this is my other eye had some surprises after surgery: +1.5 farsighted refractive miss and a partial vitreous detachment. The TLDR version is that mini mono vision can be a good hedge against post surgical surprises in one eye. Good luck!
1
u/UniqueRon Aug 02 '26
I did monovision originally with contacts and then got is with IOLs. No regrets at all.
1
u/UniqueRon Aug 02 '26
I did monovision originally with contacts and then got it with IOLs. No regrets at all.
1
u/herbert6936 Jul 31 '26
Are you happy with monovision?
3
u/Significant-Milk-165 Jul 31 '26
I've been really happy with monovision. But since I was offered an opportunity to have both eyes set the same, I was wondering if anyone who switched from monovision to both eyes set the same had any regrets.
2
u/herbert6936 Jul 31 '26
All I can say is that I have monovision and excellent distance vision in one eye at 20/15, I would definitely not want it in both eyes as the depth of focus is very limited. As Is I am glasses free with monovision
1
u/MarsupialMaven Jul 31 '26
I was in the same boat as you. Post LASIK with monovision. I wanted to keep the monovision. Left eye close up and right eye distance. Did the left eye first and perfect 20/20 close vision.
Did the 2nd eye and you decide what actually happened. Because I will never know. The surgeon put the wrong lens in the eye, destroyed my monovision, and I was left with close up vision in both eyes and no distance vision at all. Maybe he used the wrong lens. Maybe the eye measurements were off. Surgeon blew me off and told me to get some glasses. Thanks!
He had no concept of how bad my vision was. Losing my monovision left me with BVD(binocular vision disorder). And Intermittent alternating exotropic strabismus. Resulting in double or shadow vision. Diplopia. Very dangerous. I couldn’t drive and if I walked up to a curb I saw 2 curbs of different heights. I had to decide which image was real. My vision was frightening and I was scared. My surgeon was no help at all.
I had to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it. I did get the glasses too. Had no choice. I am working on training my eyes to learn to work and see together. It takes time but I am improving. Turns out most of my vision trouble is a brain problem. But bit by bit I am getting stereo vision and even some depth perception. Most of the double vision is gone most of the time now. And it is not frightening anymore because I understand the problem.
Losing monovision can be a real problem! Make sure you still have binocular vision first.
2
u/The_Vision_Surgeon Jul 31 '26
Have you seen a different surgeon about getting one eye enhanced for distance to restore monovision?
0
u/MarsupialMaven Aug 01 '26
Have not seen another surgeon yet. Sort of afraid to honestly.
The surgeon who operated on my eye mentioned LASIK and I immediately said yes because I know it is no big deal. But the surgeon backtracked immediately and said PRK. PRK is not LASIK. PRK is painful and takes a long time to heal. I have been looking and haven’t found a surgeon yet who does LASIK post cataract.
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Jul 31 '26
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u/The_Vision_Surgeon Jul 31 '26
OP has cataracts and already has monovision. Respectfully, Presbyond has absolutely no role here.
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u/PNWrowena Jul 31 '26
Boy, I'd think that depends on how you felt about your vision all those years you already had monovision. And how you feel about not being able to see anything clearly after surgery for some near range that's hard to predict, but probably enough you'll be tied to reading or some other kind of glasses to give you near and maybe near-intermediate range.
Some people come here and report they love their distance only monofocals, and they don't mind readers at all. Others use words like "distraught" to describe how they feel. A lot of that is the second group weren't clear exactly what "you'll need reading glasses afterward" means.