The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first LASIK device designed for treating one eye to see far away objects and the other eye for close-up vision.

The CustomVue Monovision LASIK claims to expand the vision correction options for nearsighted adults who also have trouble focusing on close-up objects.

It's designed to fully correct nearsightedness in the dominant eye, while only partially correcting the non-dominant eye. The theory is that the patient can use the fully corrected eye for distant vision and the other for seeing close-up.

This is a perfect example of an idea gone from bad to worse. LASIK is a permanent surgery with a 1 in 10 failure rate and is virtually guaranteed to decrease your vision over time (even if the original operation is successful.) I don't recommend it to anyone.

Here, they're taking it one step further by adding the problem of having to adjust to incompatible eye functions. Patients considering the CustomVue Monovision LASIK treatment would be required to wear monovision contact lenses for a minimum of one week to see whether or not they can tolerate and adjust to the difference in perception between the two eyes.

Side effects include glare from bright lights, halos, light sensitivity, glare when driving at night, ghost images, double vision and visual fluctuations.

I recommend staying clear of both standard LASIK as well as this new, highly experimental option, and urge you to look into the Secrets of Regaining Your Vision...Naturally, instead.

Science Blog July 12, 2007