Monovision, Is It A Good Choice For Me?

Although pervasive in society nowadays, and as such are seen as a simple, better-looking alternative to normal glasses, Monovision contact lenses are precision instruments and a vital component of your body's overall health and well-being. Improperly fitted or incorrect prescription lenses can drastically affect your quality of life. Choosing the right contact lens is difficult enough when based solely on cosmetic choice, but when one requires a corrective prescription, the decision becomes almost mind-boggling.

So you find yourself in the unenviable position of needing specialized corrective lenses? As with anything related to your health, careful consideration should be given to all the alternatives. And to help you answer the question, "Are Monovision lenses suitable for me?" we've assembled some basic information about these most mysterious of contacts.

Monovision lenses, similar in concept to bifocals, are designed to help suffers of the condition known as Presbyopia. A malady that occurs with the onset of middle to old age where the eyes lose elasticity and consequently their ability to properly focus on near objects. Essentially, monovision lenses work by having each lens set for a different distance; one eye for far vision and the other for near vision. Typically, the stronger or dominant eye will be fitted with the distance prescription and the weaker one for nearby viewing.

Because wearers are no longer able to effectively use both eyes when viewing objects, depth perception can, and usually is, affected. As such, monovision lenses are not recommended for use when driving or when otherwise engaged in activities that demand good depth perception. Other pitfalls include slightly blurred vision, or vision that is less crisp than what it was previously as well as difficulty in viewing middle or so-called inbetween distances.

Change Can Be a Good Thing

Given the 'change' as it were, monovision contacts can take a considerable period of time to get used to, as your brain needs to acclimatize itself to this new, and somewhat awkward (at least from its perspective) way of viewing the world around you. Monovision lenses, like bifocals, are not an easy option, but they can, despite their drawbacks, offer an improved vision solution for the right people.

While we hope this document has been of some use to you, it is of course always advisable to consult with your eyecare specialist. There is no substitute for professional advice. If you've already made up your mind as to what it is you need, our catalog of eye products can be perused from the easily navigable links in the right hand menu.

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