LASIK and LASEK Monovision Surgery
Renowned laser vision correction Surgeon Emil Chynn, MD, FACS, MBA, answers consumer questions regarding LASIK and LASEK laser eye surgery. This month’s question comes from James in
Burbank, CA, who writes, “Can you explain Monovision surgery to me? What choices do I have for getting the right prescription for my circumstances? Is Monovison performed on the dominant eye?”
James, thanks for your questions. In Monovison surgery, I adjust the difference in Rx between the 2 eyes, most often with the non-dominant eye receiving the prescription for reading. Unless the person’s vocation is heavily focused on reading and near work (such as a diamond cutter) the non-dominant eye is usually the best choice.
On occasion, I have to make the person see best at intermediate distances, as if they are on a computer all the time. Computer work is actually more intermediate than reading from a book (the keyboard in-between you and the monitor means the monitor is usually at 18 or 20 inches, not the standard 14 inch reading distance).
In rare instances, I have to adjust the ablation centration to be off-center, such as with a professional pool player that recently had surgery at my practice. He wanted to see best when he was stretched out over a pool table and looking up a bit from that position at the balls, so decentering his ablation to correct for this unusual position of gaze would be of benefit to his livelihood.
Sometimes I have to do light mono on both eyes, which really shouldn’t be called mono, but I still call it that to avoid confusion (this would be a person who prefers reading without reading glasses and doesn’t mind wearing glasses to drive a car at night). Essentially, I have to use my 10+ years/10,000+ procedures experience to find the right combination for any combination of work and play activities and preferences which is dependent on the individual. A good surgeon will take your lifestyle into account prior to performing Monovision and give you a prescription that will allow you to maximize the time spent out of corrective lenses or the times you prefer to be without them. Everyone is unique, which is why Monovision surgery shouldn’t be a “one size fit’s all” endeavor.
Emil William Chynn, MD FACS MBA
Dartmouth/Columbia/Harvard/Emory/NYU-trained
Member FACS, AAO, ASCRS, MENSA
(212) 741-8628 (212) 741-2390-Fax
(888) I-WANT-2020 1-888-492-6820
