Laser Eye Surgery to Correct Reading Vision

There is a saying that there are only two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. However, a decline in your reading vision really should be added to this list. If you are over the age of 45, you have likely or will very soon experience a decline in your near vision. It starts by holding the menu a little farther away, and next thing you know, you are increasing the font size on your smartphone, and trying on readers at the local drugstore. Fortunately, the technology for laser vision correction for reading, has been invented, improved and reinvented!

You likely are not interested in wearing reading glasses. So what are your reading vision correction options? There are two surgical options commonly recommended by ophthalmologists to improve your reading vision (and distance if necessary).

Monovision LASIK

Monovision LASIK is a tried and true procedure with proven results for reading vision correction. Monovision corrects one eye to focus up-close, as a reading vision correction solution, and your dominant eye will provide your distance vision (If necessary, you can have distance vision correction as well on the dominant eye). This sounds a little crazy but the brain and eyes are extremely powerful when they work together. Trained reputable ophthalmologists who perform this type of laser vision correction for reading always require the patient to do a “test drive” utilizing contact lenses. This enables you to determine if you are comfortable with this solution. With monovision, you can basically “select” the reading vision correction that best suits your needs by adjusting the power of the single contact lens.

• Ideal Candidates: Patients between the ages of 40 and 60 who are looking for reading vision correction or looking for near and distance vision correction.
• Non-Ideal Candidates: Patients who want or require either their reading vision or distance vision to be perfect. One example would be golfers. They prefer to have the best possible distance vision to follow the ball, which makes them less than ideal candidates for monovision.

Refractive Lens Exchange(RLE)

Some LASIK surgeons recommend Refractive Lens Exchange(RLE) like Restor©, Rezoom©, Crystalens© or PanOptix© for reading vision correction. These solutions can be excellent for patients who have cataracts or the onset of cataracts. All of these procedures (simply different manufacturers) are cataract procedures where your lens is removed and a synthetic lens is implanted in your eye.

• Ideal Candidates:
  • Patients who are not good candidates for LASIK or PRK
  • Patients who could not tolerate monovision.
  • Patients with cataracts or the onset of cataracts typically in their late 50s or older who are looking for distance and reading vision correction.

When considering laser vision correction for reading or distance, it is important to research all of your options before choosing your procedure and your surgeon. Not every laser eye surgery is right for every vision problem. Wondering which is the best plan for your eyes? Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Mozayeni, a cornea specialist dedicated to laser vision correction surgery. He will listen to your needs and expectations to develop a reading vision correction plan that works best for you.