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Questions About Monovision LASIK

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 30, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The age-related condition known as presbyopia is first noticed when you must hold your book at a distance to bring words on the page into focus. The condition, often first laughed away by baby boomers, soon worsens, which causes frustration when reading small print. Unfortunately, our arms don't lengthen along with our failing eyes and we soon find ourselves asking younger friends and family members to read a recipe or small wording on a document.

Monovision LASIK eye surgery is one way to combat the effects of presbyopia. Most individuals have one dominant eye. The brain "favors" that dominant eye for vision and that it is the one used for distance vision in the monovision approach. Your eye surgeon will correct the other eye for reading vision. Amazingly, the brain has a unique ability to overlap the images when the monovision correction and in a short time period, you will be able to see both near and far.

What is involved in a LASIK surgery for monovision?

Your eye surgeon will use a tiny blade to create a flap on the cornea surface. Then the ophthalmolgist will reshape the cornea so that it focuses on light more effectively. In the final stages of the surgery, the surgeon reinserts the flap at its original position.

Are there any risks to LASIK eye surgery?

Your ophthalmologist should always discuss the risk-to-benefit ratio before any surgical procedure. Although LASIK surgery is one of the safest procedures to have, it does carry some risks. The possibilities of needing an additional surgery after a first are slightly higher for a select few individuals. In fact, 1 in 5 will need their vision corrected a second time if they fall into the following groups:
- Those who have an astigmatism
- Those who need high vision correction
- Those individuals who are older in age

Do problems arise after monovision LASIK surgery?

While most monovision LASIK surgeries are very successful and offer 20/20 vision, at least for a number of years before additional optical correction is necessary, some potential problems do exist. Many find the elimination or reduced need for glasses far outweighs the problems associated with monovision LASIK surgery. Those problems may include:
- Reduced depth perception
- Peripheral focus may lessen in certain individuals

Is surgery the only way to address presbyopia?

Monovision LASIK surgery isn't the only way for correcting presbyopia. Monovision contact lenses can emulate the same effects that you get from the surgery and in fact are a recommended precursor to surgery. When given the opportunity, it's always best to try monovision first, before surgical correction. Your ophthalmologist will fit you in monovision contacts and work with you to achieve the vision that you desire. Monovision does take a few days or weeks to correct vision completely so allow yourself a period of time to make the adjustment.

If you have additional questions about monovision LASIK and want to learn more about how monovision contacts or surgery can correct presbyopia, please visit Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, owned and directed by ophthalmologist, Dr. Gary Kawesch, today.

Website: http://www.lasikdocs.com