Cataract is a disease that can make your eye lens cloudy and blur your vision. The lens of the eye that is generally clear becomes cloudy over time due to various factors for example injury, ageing, and certain medical factors. Cataract develops slowly and If the diagnosis and treatment are not taken on time, it can be dangerous and affect both eyes. In this blog we will discuss more about Monovision Cataract Surgery, how monovision helps in correcting vision, and will explore more details about monovision cataract surgery
There are many symptoms of cataracts which include:
- Blurred Vision: In this category, objects can become blurred, less colourful, or hazy.
- Glare: It can make your eye sensitive to light, especially in headlights or lamps at night.
- Decrease vision at night: It can weaken your vision in low light conditions or the dark.
- Double Vision: A rare condition where your single eye can create multiple images.
Cataracts are commonly found in older age people. Still, they can also occur in younger age people as well which can be due to injury, genetic factors, or certain medical conditions. Cataract surgery becomes an important treatment for cataracts when it interferes with your daily activities and affects your quality of life. In Cataract surgery the cloudy/blurred lens is removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial lens for making your vision better.
Monovision Cataract Surgery
Monovision Cataract surgery is a technique which is used to correct the presbyopia. Presbyopia is a disease in which a person has difficulty focusing on near objects.
Presbyopia and Cataract
As the age of the people increases, the natural lens in the eye decreases its flexibility which makes it very difficult to focus on close or nearer objects. This condition of the eye is called presbyopia whereas cataracts can make your eye lens more cloudy which also develops with age.
Monovision Correction
It involves correcting the vision of each eye separately, which is usually a dominant eye for distant vision, and a non-dominant for near vision. This can be achieved by selecting different intraocular lenses (IOL) for separate eyes.
How does Monovision Correct Vision
Monovision Surgery involves the correction of vision of both eyes separately. It includes one eye to focus primarily on distant or far objects whereas the other eye focuses primarily on near objects. Below we explain how the monovision surgery works and how it improves our vision.
Intraocular Lens Selection
In Monovision Cataract surgery different type of IOL is chosen which have different optical power and focal points. These are then implanted in each of the eyes. The selection of an IOL lens for each eye depends upon whether the eye is chosen for distance vision or near vision.
The Dominant eye will get the IOL which corrects the far/distant vision. Here the IOL lens is selected to focus on objects or light rays from far/distant objects onto the retina. It provides a clear vision for activities for example driving or watching television.
The Non-Dominant eye will get the IOL which corrects the near/close vision. Here the IOL is selected to focus on objects or light rays from near/close objects onto the retina. It helps in reading newspapers or doing the daily in-house tasks without the use of reading glasses.
Brain Vision Processing
After Monovision Surgery our brain will adapt to the conditions of receiving and processing vision information from each eye separately.
The eye which is the dominant eye and which is corrected for distant vision will be used to focus on objects which require clear distant vision. On the other hand non-dominant eye which is corrected for closer objects vision will focus on activities that require clear close/near vision.
As time passes, our brain learns automatically how to adjust eyes according to distant to close objects which allows individuals to see a far or close range of distances more naturally without constantly switching to eyeglasses.
Adjustment Period:
After monovision cataract surgery it usually takes time to adjust your eyes and brain for clear vision. Initially, you may experience difficulty in clarity and may face different in-depth perceptions of your eyes
Generally, Ophthalmologists can use contact lenses before the surgery to help the patient get used to the conditions and assess the situation comfortably.
Benefits
Monovision cataract surgery will decrease or eliminate the probability of using glasses specifically while reading, driving, or working on the computer.
It provides you flexibility in your day-to-day activities for example while driving you don’t need to switch between your glasses for distant or near vision.
Consideration: Is Monovision cataract surgery right for you
In Some cases, Monovision cataract surgery may not be suited for everyone. Some individuals may find it challenging to adapt to the situation of the difference in vision between the eyes. Must read Things i wish i knew before Cataract Surgery to get more details about how to plan your cataract surgery.
Some of the activities that require in-depth perception for example sports, and driving at night can be affected.
What to Expect Before Cataract Surgery?
Before Monovision Cataract Surgery you can expect some consultation with some additional considerations because of its monovision approach. Here is what to expect:
Consultation and Evaluation:
Before monovision cataract surgery you need proper consultation with your ophthalmologist to discuss your overall health, eye condition or existing medication, and your visual needs.
Your Dominant eye and non-dominant eye will be identified to check which eye will corrected for distant vision and which for near vision using IOL.
Testing and Measurement
An ophthalmologist will perform various tests and measurements to identify the appropriate power of intraocular lenses (IOLs) for each eye
An ophthalmologist can do a simulation with contact lenses so you can assess your comfort and give you an idea of how it can affect your vision.
IOL Lens Option Discussion
Your ophthalmologist will discuss the type of IOL lens that will be used in each of your eyes. Generally monofocal IOL is chosen for distant vision.
Your ophthalmologist will also explain to you the difference between these lenses which will also help you to choose the lens according to your lifestyle.
Arrangements for Transportation
You should arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery as your vision will be blurry and will take some time to recover completely.
Follow-up Care
You will schedule a follow-up appointment with your ophthalmologist after the surgery to monitor your eye condition and to evaluate your visual activities for betterment.
Risk and Expectations
Your ophthalmologist will discuss and explain to you what to expect during and after the surgery which includes your brain adjustment to adapt to the situation after monovision surgery.
They will also discuss the risks and complications that could arise from monovision surgery.
Recovery and Post-Operative Care in Monovision Surgery
Better recovery from monovision cataract surgery and post-operative care involve various steps to ensure better adjustment to the vision. Below are the steps which involve post-operative care.
Immediately after surgery:
Rest: After surgery, rest your eyes and body to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Eye Shield: You will be provided with an eye shield or protective glasses by your surgeon to wear while sleeping or during the day to prevent your eyes from harmful effects while you rub.
Prescribe Medication: Follow the guidelines prescribed by your surgeon. Use eye drops as instructed to prevent infection promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Vision and Activities
Initial blurriness: Initially your vision may be blurred for some time. This is normal and should be improved as your eyes heal.
Driving Restrictions: After surgery, you may not be able to drive for some time. So wait until your ophthalmologist allows you based on your vision and recovery.
Limit your Activities: Avoid activities that can cause pain to your eyes for example viewing mobile or Television screens or reading for a long period.
Adjusting to Monovision
Brain Adaptation: Your brain may take time to adjust after monovision surgery where the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision. So it will take some time to adjust your brain after the surgery.
Recommended Activities: Your surgeon may recommend to activities for example reading with both eyes open to facilitate adjustment to monovision.
Long term Care
Resume your Normal day-to-day Activities: You can gradually resume your daily activities. Take advice from your surgeon about your activities and avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities until suggested by your ophthalmologist
Eye health Maintenance: You can do your eye exercise regularly to maintain your eye health attend eye exams and monitor your eye health regularly.
Follow up Appointments
Scheduled Visits: You should attend all follow-up appointments scheduled by your ophthalmologist. These visits are essential to monitor your eye health and healing progress.
Vision Assessment Your surgeon will assess and evaluate your vision and can recommend you wear glasses or contact lenses to make your vision clearer for specific tasks such as reading and driving.
Is monovision good for cataract surgery?
Monovision is good for cataract surgery but depends on your visual needs and preferences. In monovision surgery, the dominant eye will be corrected for distance vision and the non-dominant eye for near vision. It depends on how quickly your brain adapts to vision after surgery. Monovision can also reduce your depth perception as you rely on one eye for distance vision and another eye for near vision.
What are the disadvantages of monovision?
Monovision is beneficial, but it can have some potential disadvantages that are worth considering such as it can reduce your depth perception. It can also create difficulties in your night vision because the difference in focal length between two eyes can affect vision. After surgery, your brain can take time to adapt to monovision, and during the adaptation period, you may experience difficulties in focusing.
How long does monovision last?
The Longevity and effectiveness of monovision depend on several factors which include the type of IOL used, your overall eye health, and how you adapt to the Monovision setup. The stability of vision can also be affected as your age goes on. Even after monovision surgery, you may experience changes in your vision due to age-related factors such as presbyopia that can affect your eye’s ability to focus on objects.
Will I need glasses after monovision cataract surgery?
Whether you need glasses after surgery depends on several factors such as your visual needs and requirements, day-to-day activities, and how well you adapt to monovision. Especially as your age and presbyopia progress, even with monovision, you might still need glasses for certain tasks such as reading close texts and while driving at night or detailed work.
Reviewed By
Dr. Sonam Aggarwal
MBBS, MD(C.Medicine)
[…] Monovision cataract surgery is used to treat when one eye is corrected for distant vision and the other for near vision. This surgery is not suitable for everyone and requires careful consideration with your Ophthalmologist. Monovision cataract surgery reduces the need of reading glasses as it corrects the near vision too. […]