monovision implant two questions

[hepfoe]

I am 74 y.o. and had monovision cataract surgery in Nov. '10 and Jan. '11.  The first, left eye received a Acrysof IQ 23.0 D lens, and the second, right eye received a Acrysof IQ 25.0 D lens.  I can go without eyeglasses for everyday use, except that my distance vision is very poor now, i.e. I cannot see actors' faces from the back row of a theater and I cannot read the names of streets from more than about 40 feet.  The doctor prescribed bifocal glasses with  "plano" on top for the distance eye, with corrections on top for the reading eye, and corrections on the bottom of both. With the glasses, my TV viewing is clearer, and reading slightly better, but no improvement in distance. What is going on and is it correctable?  Also,  I read for prolonged periods without glasses and find that since the implant while reading, the reading eye feels like it has something in it.  I haven't tried reading for prolonged periods with the bifocal glasses on because it strains my neck.  I used to have reading glasses all one power.  Would such glasses help now with the physical sensation I described?  Thanks

[hepfoe]

Thank you for asking the important questions.  My vision has since been checked by an optometrist who gave me an entirely different prescription, which now includes correction in the eye I use for distance. Additionally, the original prescription had not addressed my known astigmatism.  I don't have the new lenses yet, so I don't know if they will solve the problem.  I sure hope so.

[hepfoe]

Without the implants, I imagine I would have no uncorrected distance vision in either eye.  The implants power is 23 and 25.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I do not have enough information.  What is you uncorrected distance vision in both eye?  What is you correct distance vision in both eye?  You will see better with both eyes set for distance.  But the glasses should accomplish this.  Ask your surgeon.

Dr. O.