Five-year clinical study of patients with pseudophakic monovision

To assess the long-term clinical outcomes and acceptability of pseudophakic monovision.

Department of Ophthalmology, Kitasato University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.

Case series.

Patients who had surgery using the monovision method with monofocal intraocular lenses had routine postoperative examinations. Assessed were visual acuity, near stereopsis, ocular deviation, patient satisfaction, and the rate of spectacle dependence preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years postoperatively.

The study enrolled 54 patients with a mean age of 74.7 years ± 7.9 (SD). The mean difference in the spherical equivalent refractive error between eyes of each patient was 2.13 diopters. The binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity was at least 0.10 logMAR in 98% of patients, with 76% achieving Jaeger 2 or better binocular uncorrected near visual acuity. Near stereopsis in patients who shifted from exophoria to intermittent exotropia decreased, although no serious problems were observed. The rate of spectacle dependence was 88% preoperatively, 41% at 1 year, and 22% at 5 years. Patient satisfaction improved gradually during the follow-up.

Pseudophakic monovision was an effective approach for correcting presbyopia throughout the 5-year observation period; however, a longer follow-up, including further studies is necessary to allow selection of appropriate patients.

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.