To evaluate the clinical results of monovision treatment applied to cataract patients who planned to undergo phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation.

Phacoemulsificaiton and implantation of a monofocal PC IOL were performed in 40 patients between January 2005 and January 2006. Surgeries were performed on the dominant eye with the postoperative goals of emmetropia and on the nondominant eye with the postoperative goals of mild myopia. Patients' satisfaction, refractive change, and visual acuity were evaluated for at least 3 months after the surgery.

The mean postoperative uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) of binocular eyes was 0.56±0.52, which was a statistically significant improvement compared with the mean preoperative UCNVA ( P <0.001). The mean postoperative uncorrected far visual acuity(UCFVA) of binocular eyes was 0.70±0.34, which was a statistically significant improvement compared with the mean preoperative UCFVA ( P <0.001). In all, 77.5% (31 of 40) of patients were satisfied with the results.

Monovision induced by phacoemulsification and implantation of a monofocal PC IOL is suggested to be a good option in patients with presbyopia and cataract.