On eye for near, the other for far

[bibblebub]

This afternoon I had my eyes tested for contact lenses and it turns out that a single-focus lens won't provide the correction needed for both near and far objects.

One possibility that was mentioned (and immediately dismissed by both the optician and I) was using one eye for near sight and the other for far sight. This just seems such a stupid idea, effectively only using one eye at a time, no depth perception etc. but apparently it was used in the past (presumably before multi-focal lenses became available).

So has any ABer either used contacts in this way or know someone who did? Was it at all practical?

[Clanad]

Yes... here in the U.S. a friend of many years used the monocular lenses for about 5 years. Generally, he was quite satisfied, but as time went by (maybe 5 years) he found he was having headaches. His opthamologist believed the headaches to be related to the monovision lens. He ceased using the lenses and the headaches did go away. In his case he only wore one lens as the dominant eye was good for near vision. Over all, he said he felt it was a good experience, but some newer lenses have come on the market that he uses. I'm not sure what he's using now...

[bibblebub]

5 years is a long time; I suppose one gets used to it but nevertheless it just seems such a strange choice to make in the first place.

[ladyalex]

I was offered a single lens to wear all the time (I only need glasses for reading but was really fed up with all the on-again off-again palaver with glasses, especially when I'm out shopping.)
I did try wearing it but did not find it easy to adapt....my vision seemed constantly blurred..so I gave up and went back to my trusty specs. This was about a year ago.
A friend of mine, though, who need specs for both reading and distance has one lens for distance, the other for reading and seems to manage perfectly well.
My theory is it depends how good your eyesight was before you needed specs...mine was really good until I got into my 50s when I started to need readers. I think because it used to be so good, and because my distance vision is still pretty good, I find it difficult to tolerate blurring. People who have always had dodgy vision don't seem to have as much bother.
But what do I know ? Maybe an optician will come on and offer an educated opinion.

[coriander2]

I have had laser surgery and one of my eyes is now - 1 which I use for reading and the other is +1 which I use for distance. I don't suffer from headaches and my brains seems to cope pretty well with this.

[bibblebub]

I don't know where I would fit into your theory, ladyalex, because I've been wearing glasses all day every day since before I was 5 so have been used to seeing things in focus all the time.

And, coriander2, that's a very brave decision to have them lasered that way. My eyes have started to get a bit worse again in the last few years after a couple of decades of stability, and I always think that would mean that if I had had laser treatment in the past then I would be back to needing glasses/lenses now.

[Brinjal]

I wore a single contact lens for awhile. It was great most of the time but I struggled with percetion when driving and nearly had a couple of whoopseys so had to give that up. So it back to reading glasses when required.

[coriander2]

My laser surgery outcome was not intentional.I was involved in trials at St Thomas's Hospital in the early 1990's and this was the outcome. Not that I am complaining mind you. It suits me just fine

[jno]

yes, a friend does that and has no trouble.

[bibblebub]

Is it true that laser surgery can only be done once? Or can it be done again several years later? (not that I can afford it anyway)

p.s. I wish I had noticed the missing e from 'one' in the question title when I submitted it.

[Wak]

I wear bi-focal specs but would have thought that distance contact lenses for both eyes and then use normal glasses for reading would have been a reasonable solution. That way you wouldn't have to wear specs outdoors in bad weather and for driving.
One eye for reading and one for distance seems a bit too strange for me.
Then again, it depends how one feels personally about it!

[coriander2]

Yes I believe laser surgery can be done again at a later date. Actually, I am not aware that one of my eyes concentrates on distance and the other one on close up. The brain is a wonderful thing and does it all automaticaly for me I'm pleased to say.

[bibblebub]

Thanks all for the replies.

The question of contact lenses might prove to be hypothetical for me anyway because the degree of astigmatism in my left eye might preclude the use of a contact lens in that eye; I shall only find out when I try them next week.