Short answer: Monovision and blended vision both reduce the need for reading glasses by setting your dominant eye for distance and your other eye for near. With monovision, the difference between the eyes is larger, so each eye does its own job. With blended vision, the difference is smaller and each eye’s range of focus is extended, so the two ranges overlap.
- With laser, monovision LASIK works best, in our experience, for short-sighted people who have already worn monovision contact lenses and liked them.
- With lens replacement or cataract surgery, micro-monovision with extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses, a type of blended vision, is in our surgeons’ view an excellent way to get a wide range of vision with minimal halos.
Whenever we feel it will help, we arrange a contact lens trial first so you can experience monovision before surgery. There is no extra charge for monovision or blended vision.
From your mid-40s the natural lens inside the eye stiffens, so focusing up close gets harder (NEI). Monovision and blended vision work around this by giving each eye a slightly different job and letting your brain combine the two.
What is monovision?
With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance and the other is deliberately left slightly short-sighted, so it can see up close. Most people have a dominant eye, and that is usually the one set for distance. With both eyes open, your brain uses whichever eye has the clearer picture, and many people can’t tell which eye is doing what (AAO).
Monovision has been used for decades with contact lenses. It can also be done with laser eye surgery and with lens implants during cataract or lens replacement surgery.
What is blended vision?
Blended vision refines the same idea. The near eye is set with a smaller difference from the distance eye, and each eye is given a longer range of focus, so the two ranges overlap in the middle, at computer and dashboard distance. The change from near to far feels more natural, and depth perception is affected less.
There are two main ways to do it:
- With laser: Laser Blended Vision uses LASIK, performed at Focus Vision on the Alcon WaveLight EX500, to set the difference and shape the cornea to extend each eye’s focus. We also offer Alcon’s READ treatment on the same laser.
- With lens implants: micro-monovision, where both eyes receive an extended depth of focus (EDOF) lens and the non-dominant eye is set very slightly short-sighted.
The terms aren’t used consistently: the American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that some eye doctors call monovision “blended vision” (AAO). If you are comparing clinics, ask how much difference will be set between your eyes.
A larger difference between the eyes. Reading and distance are clear, but there can be a softer zone in between, at computer distance.
A smaller difference between the eyes, and each eye's range of focus is extended, so the two ranges overlap.
Monovision vs blended vision at a glance
| Monovision | Blended vision (including micro-monovision) | |
|---|---|---|
| Difference between the eyes | Larger | Smaller |
| Reading | Done mainly by the near eye | Shared, with overlap |
| Computer and dashboard distance | Can be the weakest zone | Covered by the overlap |
| Depth perception | Can be reduced | Reduced less, because the difference is smaller |
| Adjusting to it | Some people never adapt | The smaller difference is designed to be easier to adapt to |
| Fine print and dim light | Reading glasses may still help | Reading glasses may still help |
The general rule is that the bigger the difference between the eyes, the more depth perception and contrast can be reduced (EyeWiki). Even with monovision or blended vision, reading glasses can still help with small print (AAO).
Micro-monovision with EDOF lenses
For people having refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery, our surgeons regard micro-monovision with extended depth of focus lenses as an excellent way to give a great range of vision with minimal halos.
How it works. An EDOF lens has a single, stretched zone of focus rather than separate distance and near rings, so it gives a continuous range from distance to arm’s length (AAO). Setting the non-dominant eye very slightly short-sighted extends that range a little closer. Because the difference between the eyes is so small, the two eyes still work closely together.
Why it gives few halos. Multifocal (trifocal) lenses split light between several focusing zones. A Cochrane review found they give more freedom from reading glasses than single-focus lenses, but more glare and halos (de Silva et al., 2016). Micro-monovision with a non-diffractive EDOF lens takes a different route to a wide range of vision:
- In a study of 62 people who had a non-diffractive EDOF lens in both eyes, with the second eye set half a dioptre short-sighted, only 5% reported halos and 7% found any light effects bothersome. 96% didn’t need glasses for distance and 95% didn’t need them for intermediate tasks such as a computer (Tomagova et al., 2023).
- A 2026 review found that this kind of small, “mini” monovision preserves depth perception and binocular vision better than conventional monovision, with satisfaction and freedom from glasses approaching that of multifocal lenses (Kang et al., 2026).
- A systematic review of 19 studies (1,530 patients) found an average of 63% of people with EDOF mini-monovision were free of glasses, with low rates of lens exchange (Levy et al., 2025).
The trade-off. Very fine print, especially in dim light, may still need reading glasses. In the study above, 34% of people didn’t need glasses for near (Tomagova et al., 2023). If reading without glasses matters most to you, a trifocal lens may suit you better, accepting more halos. Your surgeon will talk through which matters more to you.
The EDOF lenses we use include the TECNIS PureSee, a purely refractive EDOF lens our surgeons helped research (how we helped develop the PureSee lens), and the Rayner RayOne Galaxy.
Monovision with LASIK: who it suits best
In our experience, monovision with LASIK works best for short-sighted people who have already worn monovision contact lenses and are happy with them.
- They already know how it feels. People who have worn monovision contact lenses adapt more quickly after surgery (EyeWiki).
- Contact lens success predicts surgical success. Monovision created by surgery is harder to reverse than with contact lenses, so it is only appropriate after a successful contact lens trial (Evans, 2007).
- Short-sighted people already read with their natural near focus. Many short-sighted people over 45 read by taking their glasses off. Monovision LASIK leaves the near eye slightly short-sighted, keeping some of that familiar near vision rather than taking it away (EyeWiki).
The evidence for monovision LASIK is encouraging. In a study of 294 people, the proportion who could read at 20/40 or better without glasses rose from 4.7% to 88.9%, and 85% were satisfied or very satisfied (Peng et al., 2018). In people over 45 who had monovision after refractive surgery, 88% were satisfied (Jain et al., 2001).
Long-sighted people need glasses for both distance and reading as presbyopia sets in. For many of them, especially from their 50s, lens replacement with EDOF micro-monovision is the better route. See laser eye surgery over 50.
Who may struggle with monovision
- People who do a lot of night driving, because the near eye’s blur is harder to ignore in the dark (Evans, 2007)
- People who rely on fine depth perception at work. Depth perception is reduced with monovision, although most people don’t notice (Evans, 2007)
- People with a binocular vision or eye muscle problem, which monovision can make worse. This is checked before treatment (Evans, 2007)
- Short-sighted people who have never tried monovision and read comfortably without glasses now. For them, a contact lens trial first is especially important (EyeWiki)
Side effects such as blur, glare at night or a feeling that something is “off” usually lessen as you adapt (EyeWiki).
Monovision with contact lenses and in cataract surgery: the evidence
Contact lenses. A review found that 59% to 67% of experienced contact lens wearers succeeded with monovision. The main problems were blur when driving at night and the lack of a third focus for middle distances such as computer screens (Evans, 2007).
Conventional monovision in cataract surgery. In a randomised trial of 212 people having cataract surgery in both eyes with single-focus lenses, 25.8% of the monovision group never wore glasses, compared with 71.3% of a multifocal lens group. But 5.7% of the multifocal group had their lens exchanged in the first year, and no one in the monovision group did (Wilkins et al., 2013). EDOF micro-monovision aims to combine the low halos of monovision with a much wider range of vision.
Which eye is set for distance? Finding your dominant eye
Your dominant eye is usually set for distance (AAO). You can find it at home with a simple test (EyeWiki):
- Stretch your arms out and bring your hands together to make a small triangle-shaped opening.
- With both eyes open, look through the opening at an object across the room.
- Close your left eye, then your right eye.
- The eye that still sees the object through the opening is usually your dominant eye.
Our free dominant eye test walks you through this step by step.
Dominance isn’t always fixed, though, and the eye that prefers distance can differ from this simple test. A contact lens trial is the most reliable way to find out which arrangement suits you (Evans, 2007).
Experiencing it first: the contact lens trial
Because some people can’t adapt, eye doctors usually recommend trying monovision with contact lenses before making it permanent (AAO). At Focus Vision, whenever we feel it will help you experience monovision, we arrange a contact lens trial before surgery.
A good trial lasts long enough to cover your normal week: work, screens, driving at night and any sport. Don’t drive until you are comfortable with how your eyes work together (Evans, 2007).
What it costs
There is no extra charge for monovision or blended vision at Focus Vision:
- Laser Blended Vision or monovision LASIK: $4,250 per eye, the same as standard LASIK
- Lens replacement with EDOF micro-monovision: $6,000 per eye including the anaesthetist, the same as any refractive lens exchange
Prices are all-inclusive except prescribed eye drops. If fine-tuning is needed, enhancements are free for two years under our enhancement policy. See our costs page for interest-free payment plans.
What about PRESBYOND?
PRESBYOND is the name Zeiss gives to its laser blended vision software for its MEL 90 excimer laser (Zeiss). It is one company’s version of laser blended vision, and published studies have reported good results (Russo et al., 2022).
Focus Vision doesn’t use the Zeiss laser. We perform Laser Blended Vision with LASIK on the Alcon WaveLight EX500, and offer Alcon’s READ treatment on the same laser. The principle is the same: one eye set mainly for distance, the other slightly for near, with the cornea shaped to extend the range of focus.
Which is right for you?
- Short-sighted, in your 40s or early 50s, and happy with monovision contact lenses: monovision or Laser Blended Vision with LASIK is often the natural choice. LASIK is generally offered between 18 and 55.
- Long-sighted, in your late 50s or older, or with early lens changes: lens replacement with EDOF micro-monovision can give a wide range of vision with minimal halos.
- Not sure you want surgery: monovision contact lenses let you get the benefit with no commitment.
Our surgeons perform both laser and lens surgery, so they can talk you through every option at your consultation.
References
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is monovision or blended vision? EyeSmart. aao.org
- National Eye Institute. Presbyopia. nei.nih.gov
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Presbyopia treatment. EyeWiki. eyewiki.aao.org/Presbyopia_treatment
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. IOL implants. EyeSmart. aao.org/eye-health/treatments/iol-implants
- de Silva SR, Evans JR, Kirthi V, Ziaei M, Leyland M. Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;12:CD003169. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27943250
- Tomagova N, Elahi S, Vandekerckhove K. Clinical outcomes of a new non-diffractive extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens targeted for mini-monovision. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023;17:981-990. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37007049
- Kang S, Hsu J, Yoo SH. Pseudophakic mini-monovision. Surv Ophthalmol. 2026;71(3):973-979. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41232695
- Levy I, Shah RP, Mukhija R, Nanavaty MA. Outcomes of mini-monovision with monofocal, enhanced monofocal and extended depth-of-focus intraocular lenses. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;12:1522383. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40061383
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Monovision LASIK. EyeWiki. eyewiki.org/Monovision_LASIK
- Evans BJ. Monovision: a review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2007;27(5):417-439. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17718882
- Peng MY, Hannan S, Teenan D, et al. Monovision LASIK in emmetropic presbyopic patients. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018;12:1665-1671. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30233129
- Jain S, Ou R, Azar DT. Monovision outcomes in presbyopic individuals after refractive surgery. Ophthalmology. 2001;108(8):1430-1433. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11470695
- Wilkins MR, Allan BD, Rubin GS, et al. Randomized trial of multifocal intraocular lenses versus monovision after bilateral cataract surgery. Ophthalmology. 2013;120(12):2449-2455. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24070808
- Carl Zeiss Meditec. PRESBYOND (product information). zeiss.com
- Russo A, Reinstein DZ, Filini O, et al. Visual and refractive outcomes following laser blended vision with non-linear aspheric micro-anisometropia (PRESBYOND) in myopic and hyperopic patients. J Refract Surg. 2022;38(5):288-297. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35536710
Start with a free optometrist assessment to find out whether monovision or blended vision suits your eyes. Every patient proceeding to surgery then has a paid consultation with a specialist surgeon to confirm suitability, discuss their procedure and plan surgery. The consultation fee is deducted from the surgery price. See consultation and pricing details.