Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

mono vision=double vision


I read with great interest the posts on double vision after having monovision for a period of time. I too had lasik surgery and was convinced that monovision was the way to go for me. I had a very high prescription for glasses: -7 aprox in both eyes. Everything was fine although a bit of trouble focusing especially (as one poster has stated here) watching a film in a theatre was difficult to focus. This past month suddeny my driving at night caused definite double vision when driving on a dark highway at a fast speed. This alarmed me naturally and I made a call to the lasik centre who advised me to see an optometrist. I've been seeing an opthalmologist  and he has ordered me a pair of glasses with prisms. He's also sending me to a pediatrician eye specialist for exercises. He mentioned surgery to tighten the muscle of the weak (lazy) eye.

I am only begining this journey and I am grateful to have found a great doctor who is taking this very seriously and is spending time researching this problem. He told me last week he suspects (as well as other professionals he has contacted since examining me) that there are many people out there with this problem.

My understanding now from reading here that it is crucial to get the proper help and that there does seem to be a remedy. Any further assistance I would greatly appreciate.

~S
7 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I am experiencing double vision after many years of monovision correction using contact lenses. We are trying a pair of glasses with prism correction over the contact lenses but I have difficulty because although this aligns the images, they are of different sizes. The double vision also "floats" an image with a different slant so that text collides and is very distraction. Thoughts? Should I continue with these contacts, go to glasses with bifocals, etc.? My correction is very high and I have had monovision correction for more than 20 years.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal


Hi Again,

I did send you a message...not sure why that didn't reach you but I appreciate this info and will get right on it.

:-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I haven't received your PM, but I'll post the names of a couple of entire articles (not just abstracts) by Burton J. Kushner, which can be downloaded free (try googling).  They are:

"Diplopia after Refractive Surgery"

"Recently Acquired Diplopia in Adults with Long-Standing Strabismus"  (see case 3)

I know that you have no history of childhood strabisums; neither did I.  Apparently it's possible to have "micro-strabismus" as a child with a deviation in alighnment so subtle that it's not detectable without testing.  In any case, it seems that both you and I have a vulnerability to binocular decompensation with monovision.

There's a newer (2008) article by Dr. Kushner available (free) in abstact only.  It is "Causes and Prevention of Diplopia after Refractive Surgery."  You can get a copy of the complete article by emailing Dr. Kushner, who was extremely helpful to me.

If I had stopped doing monovision when I initially developed double vision, I would not have needed eye muscle surgery.  I was poorly advised by eye care professionals who did not understand my condition.  I am posting this information so that you and others can avoid the problems I had.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

Thank you so much! It appears that there isn't a sureness over what to do. I will send you my email address. thanks again!

Very Hopeful
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also experienced double vision secondary to monovision contact lens wear.  Yes, get a contact lens for your near eye as soon as possible.  Your double vision may be reversible.  Dr. Bertram Kushner at the University of Wisconsin has published a number papers about monovision producing diplopia (i.e., double vision) in vulnerable people.  You can find a few papers online, or I can send them to you if you give me your email address in a personal message.

If you attempt to do monovision again, expect to re-experience double vision.  If you continue with monovision (like I did on the advise of several eye care professionals), your double vision will require surgery to correct.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

Thank you for your advice. So you are saying to go the contact lens route to correct this near eye. Eyeglasses will not do this? I did not have double vision prior to the lasik surgery. I will show my opthamologist your advice and the postings here. Once I get (hopefully) my eye back to the full monovision I would like to have the near eye corrected to full power and see with 'normal' vision. I do not have any faith in this procedure now; I don't think I am a good candidate for it.

B/t/w  I am fairly patient. I only double posted because I wasn't sure how this site works and that I may have posted in the wrong place.   :-)   Thank you for your prompt reply; I didn't expect someone to respond as quickly as you did.
Helpful - 0
711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You need to get a contact lens for your near eye to improve you fusion.  If this helps, use reader and slowly decrease to the contact lens power to return to your full monovision.

I assume you did not have double vision prior to your LASIK.

Dr. O.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community

Top General Health Answerers
177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
Avatar universal
Grand Prairie, TX
Avatar universal
San Diego, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.