See Cataract

See Monovision

Cataract refers to the natural lens of your eye when it turns cloudy usually due to age. During cataract surgery, this cloudy lens is removed and a new clear synthetic lens is implanted in its place. Usually, the lens power is chosen to allow the eye to focus on far away objects, but glasses would still be needed for up close vision. However, certain patients may obtain clear vision for far away and up close using monovision.

Cataract surgery with monovision is a time-tested alternative to reading glasses after cataract surgery and to the newer multifocal lenses. With this strategy, a traditional monofocal intraocular lens focused for far away objects is implanted in the dominant eye. The non dominant eye is implanted with an intraocular lens that is focused for near objects. When both eyes are used together, the patient can see reasonably well both in the distance and up close, without needing the help of spectacles. Not all patients are able to tolerate this form of correction. To test who will tolerate monovision, interested patients are prescribed contact lenses that simulate how they will see with monovision.

The major advantage of monovision is its convenience, but it also has its drawbacks. Far vision may not be perfect, especially at nighttime or in areas with little lighting. Some individuals may need glasses to correct the nearsightedness left in the non-dominant eye to feel comfortable about nighttime activities such as driving.

Secondly, near vision will typically work well for only short periods of time. In long periods of reading, the patient will notice a decrease in clarity and the eyes will get tired. Reading spectacles in this situation will keep the eyes relaxed and prevent them from tiring.

During the early stages, especially during the first week, patients may feel both near and distance vision is unfocused. Some may become irritated, see double vision, feel dizzy, nauseated, pain in the eye sockets, fatigue, or find it difficult to keep the eyes open towards the end of the day. This problem is the greatest during the first week and may last some months. During this adjustment period, spectacles may help with the patient's symptoms. The lenses of the spectacles may even need to be changed a few times. Once the body adjusts over the period of some months, these symptoms should improve.