Sighting dominance and monovision distance binocular fusional ranges

Clinicians typically apply the distance correction to the dominant sighting eye in fitting presbyopic patients with monovision (MV) contact lenses. We evaluated the effect of this fitting strategy on distance binocular fusional ranges for 23 presbyopic subjects. This sample was composed of successful and unsuccessful MV wearers. Fusional ranges for the two MV fitting possibilities (distance lens on the dominant eye, near lens on the dominant eye) were compared to fusional ranges in which both eyes were fitted with the distance correction. A greater esophoric shift and greater reduction in vergence ranges were demonstrated when the non-dominant eye received the clear image compared to when the dominant eye received the clear image. Successful MV patients demonstrated these effects to a lesser degree than did unsuccessful patients. In general, effects of MV on distance binocular fusional ranges were fewer when successful MV subjects received the clear image in the dominant eye.