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Providence Eye
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ALTERNATIVES TO LASIK

Monovision LASIK or PRK

Monovision LASIK or PRK should be considered by any patient 40 or older. Why? Because monovison will enable you to reduce, or even eliminate, your need for glasses or contacts for both distance and near vision. Monovision is not new. However, the advancement in technology has made it a much better option since 2004, when Providence Eye introduced the WaveLight Excimer Laser to the Charlotte area and its subsequent upgrade, the WaveLight EX400 Excimer Laser in 2009 and in 2014 the WaveLight EX500.

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Key Points

  • Monovision LASIK or PRK is an ideal vision correction option for patients typically 45 and older in Charlotte who want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts for both distance and near vision.
  • Monovision LASIK works by correcting the non-dominant eye for near vision and the dominant eye for distance vision, allowing the brain to naturally adapt and sync both eyes for clear vision at all ranges.
  • Before committing to Monovision LASIK or PRK surgery, Providence Eye requires patients to complete a 7–14 day monovision "test drive" using contact lenses, so they can experience and confirm their expected results before the procedure.
  • Monovision LASIK is highly effective for approximately 90–95% of daily activities, though patients may occasionally need glasses for tasks like reading small print or nighttime driving.
  • Providence Eye has offered advanced monovision laser vision correction in the Charlotte area since 2004, utilizing the state-of-the-art WaveLight EX500 laser to deliver precise, customized results for each patient.

What is Monovision LASIK?

Monovision LASIK or PRK surgery is when the non-dominant eye is set to be focused for near vision and the dominant eye for distance vision. Although it sounds crazy, the brain can “learn” to adapt and sync up with your eyes to create both great distance and great near vision.

During your consultation, our team will discuss your visual needs with you for your personal and professional life, demonstrate a monovision recommendation, and adjust that recommendation based on your feedback. We do not rush into monovision - not everyone likes monovision and some people can't adjust. For this reason, we will require that you take a monovision "test drive" utilizing contact lenses for up to 2 weeks.

Learn More About Monovision LASIK

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Take a Monovision "Test Drive"

Once you and your surgeon Dr. Nunnery agree on a scenario that feels comfortable, then you will move on to a 1–2-week monovision trial utilizing contact lenses. Think of this as a “test drive” of the results of the surgery before you even have the surgery! We’ll follow up during the first week, talk to you about your experience, and adjust if necessary.

Never worn contacts before? No worries - we're here to help. This is all about you and finding the best possible scenario for your vision correction to meet your expectations.

Contact lens Display

The Test Drive Experience

We normally recommend that you “test drive” monovision with contact lenses for 7–14 days. Often times a person will find that although the first few days may have some challenges, with a little patience, and occasional adjusting, the brain and eye begin to “synch up” and the vision gets better and better. If you and the Providence Eye team concur that monovision will meet your expectations, then your surgeon Dr. Nunnery can provide you monovision with LASIK or PRK.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Monovision LASIK

One of the clearest advantages to monovision is gaining the ability to see far away and up close without glasses or contacts. With a quick procedure and minimal downtime, you can get back to your normal life with minimal interruption and become less dependent on glasses or contacts.

We find that monovision is great for many people for 90-95% of their daily activities. However, there may be certain occasions, extremely fine print or nighttime driving for example, when you may require glasses.

Schedule a Consultation

To schedule an appointment, call 704-540-9595 or complete the short form below.