Monovision glasses?

I've read that wearing contact lenses is the only option when there is
a significant disparity in uncorrected vision between the eyes (say -1D
right eye and -5D left eye). Would it be possible to make monovision
glasses that might work without the contact lenses?

Actually, it is completely possible to make glasses with and without
monovision for this kind of anisometropia. What is true is that often
such glasses cause binocularity problems (not always), which is why most
vision insurance plans will pay for "medically necessary" contacts when
the aniso (difference) is over 2 D. or so.

w.stacy, o.d.

Jodie wrote:
> I've read that wearing contact lenses is the only option when there is
> a significant disparity in uncorrected vision between the eyes (say -1D
> right eye and -5D left eye). Would it be possible to make monovision
> glasses that might work without the contact lenses?
>

In article <(E-Mail Removed) om>,
"Jodie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I've read that wearing contact lenses is the only option when there is
> a significant disparity in uncorrected vision between the eyes (say -1D
> right eye and -5D left eye). Would it be possible to make monovision
> glasses that might work without the contact lenses?

I wore monovision glasses for several years. They didn't work well, but
they did work. My OD was reluctant to prescribe them, but I pointed out
that I couldn't use conventional glasses or no glasses, anyway. I wore
contacts about 14 hours a day, and pretty much 7 days a week. The
glasses were for the little time that I wasn't wearing contacts. I was
plano in the right eye and -10D in the left.

I don't know that I would recommend them. Contacts are the way to go.

Jodie wrote:
> I've read that wearing contact lenses is the only option when there is
> a significant disparity in uncorrected vision between the eyes (say -1D
> right eye and -5D left eye). Would it be possible to make monovision
> glasses that might work without the contact lenses?

Don't confuse anisometropia (ie refractive difference between the two
eyes) with monovision (correcting one eye for distance and the other
for near vision). They are quite different animals although you can
do monovision with people with anisometropia.

So if you're referring to simply distance vision correction, contacts
are a better visual option than glasses for individuals with a
significant
anisometropia. But if you're referring to correcting your right eye for
distance (still would be the -1.00 d) and dropping the left eye
correction for NEAR (say you need a +2.00 d add- the left eye
would now be a -3.00d) the glasses could work as now you have
decreased the refractive difference. Make sense?

Basically, if you're not over the age of 40 the monovision option
likely would not
work for you.

frank