Visual and nonvisual variables implicated in monovision wear.

BACKGROUND

Although both psychological and visual factors have been suggested to influence successful monovision contact lens wear, there has not been any documentation to support the relationship between psychological factors and the outcome of monovision wear. In our study, the relative importance of various visual and psychological factors were investigated in an attempt to provide a profile of a successful monovision wearer.

METHODS

Participants, who had never worn monovision lenses were fitted with distance contact lenses for an adaptation period of 2 weeks; thereafter, 67 participants wore monovision lenses for 2 weeks.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 67% stated that based on their visual experience they would continue monovision wear. Discriminant analysis indicated that one of the personality factors in Cattell's 16 Personality Factor (16 PF) test, "superego strength," could be used, in conjunction with the difference between binocular and monovision stereopsis scores, in predicting the success of monovision in 68% of the cases. The variables of age, gender, pupil size, immediate reaction to monovision, motivation, self-efficacy distance, and near refractive error could not be used to predict successful monovision wear.

CONCLUSIONS

These result demonstrate that psychological factors are indeed important in monovision wear.