Monovision is a strategy where one eye is focused for distance and the other eye is set a bit nearsighted for near tasks. Essentially, one eye becomes your “telescope” and the other your “microscope.” For many people, the brain wonderfully can blend these two images so you can see far and near without glasses, though it’s a bit of a compromise (you sacrifice a little bit of the sharpest binocular distance vision and depth perception).

Pros: It can free you from glasses for most tasks, especially if you tolerate it well – many patients can drive and read with no glasses. It doesn’t involve fancy lens optics, so there are no special halos or such from lenses (we’re just adjusting focus). Contact lenses can be used on an as needed basis to correct the vision in the near eye for certain activities that require better depth perception, like playing tennis or golf.

Cons: Not everyone’s brain likes monovision; some people feel imbalance or notice one eye is blurrier at certain distances. Also, extremely fine detail or very long drives at night might still require glasses.

Ideal candidates are those who have done monovision with contact lenses before and liked it, or people who are a bit more adaptable. Usually, your doctor can simulate monovision with contacts before surgery (if time permits) to see if you’re comfortable. If you already naturally have one eye that’s slightly stronger for near, you may be a great candidate. Monovision is a tried-and-true method – simple in concept but effective for the right person.