Monocular Vision

Monocular  vision  means  having  no  vision  in  one  eye  but  having  adequate  vision  in  the  other  eye.  Becoming  monocular  from unilateral  childhood  glaucoma  is  very  rare  but  may  occur  in  severe  cases.

Monocular  Driving

1) Getting  your  license:  Check  your  state’s  vision  requirements.  If  you  are  monocular,  you  may  be  required  to  have  an optometrist  complete  a  vision  exam  and  fill  out  a  form  rather  than  taking  the  standard  vision  test  at  the  Department  of Motor  Vehicles.  Depending  on  the  vision  level  in  the  sighted  eye,  you  may  also  be  subject  to  additional  driving  restrictions.

2) Mirrors:  Be  sure  to  have  adequate  side  and  rear  view  mirrors;  in  many  cases,  a  larger  rearview  mirror  and  convex  mirroring on  the  wing  (side)  mirrors  can  eliminate  blind  spots.

3) Visual  cues:  Use  the  size  of  objects  to  gauge  distance/speed  and  be  especially  careful  switching  lanes.  Leave  extra  space between  you  and  the  car  in  front  of  you.

4) Sunglasses:  Keep  a  pair  of  sunglasses  handy  in  the  car  at  all  times  to  provide  optimal  vision  in  strong  sunlight.

5) Ground  yourself:  Use  fixed  objects  as  reference  points  when  parking  (hanging  tennis  ball  in  garage,  parking  meter,  etc.)

Position  Yourself  for  Success

1) Seating  arrangements:    At  restaurants,  meetings,  movies,  etc.  try  to  sit  with  your  blind  side  next  to  the  wall  so  you  get  the best  view  of  your  surroundings  with  your  sighted  eye.  This  will  save  you  from  a  lot  of  neck  swiveling  and  cramping.

2) Walking:  Walk  with  your  sighted  eye  next  to  the  road  for  optimal  awareness  and  safety  (ex.  If  you  are  blind  in  your  left  eye, walk  on  the  left  side  of  the  street  so  your  right  eye  can  easily  see  the  road.)

3) Crowds:  Be  extra  cautious  in  crowds  in  cities  or  concerts.  Frequently  scan  your  immediate  area  so  you  are  aware  of  all  your surroundings.  If  you  must  turn  towards  your  blind  side,  do  so  slowly  and  try  to  leave  extra  space  between  you  and  others.

The  World  is  Your  Oyster!

1) Pursue  your  dreams:  Monocular  people  can  and  do  work  successfully  in  all  types  of  careers.  In  the  United  States,  there  are very  few  career  restrictions  for  monocular  people.  A  few  jobs  that  may  require  binocular  and  full  peripheral  vision  include the  armed  services,  police,  firefighting,  and  commercial  interstate  drivers.

2) You’re  in  good  company:  There  are  many  famous  monocular  people  including  musician  Sammy  Davis  Jr.,  former  British Prime  Minister  Gordon  Brown,  model  Sonia  Velasquez,  Hollywood  actor  David  Duchovny,  and  the  King  of  Thailand  (just  to name  a  few!).  In  fact,  you  have  probably  encountered  a  monocular  individual  in  your  life—but  just  never  knew  it.

3) Sports  advantage:  Being  monocular  can  actually  give  you  an  advantage  in  some  target  sports  like  archery,  bowling, shooting,  and  snooker.  Ever  wonder  why  seasoned  players  shut  one  eye  in  pool?

Know  Thyself

1) Monocular  moments:  Be  sensitive  to  when  you  are  prone  to  having  a  monocular  moment,  such  as  accidently  walking  into  a partially  opened  door  on  your  blind  side.  Understand  when  you  are  tired,  and  when  to  exercise  additional  caution.

2) Protect  your  eyes:  Monocular  people  should  wear  glasses  to  protect  their  sighted  eye,  even  if  they  have  perfect  vision. When  outside,  wear  sunglasses  at  all  times.

3) Dealing  with  challenges:  Being  monocular  can  sometimes  be  frustrating.  However,  maintaining  a  positive  attitude  and strong  support  system  can  help  you  through  the  tough  times.  When  all  else  fails,  remember  that  you  won’t  be  standing wide  eyed  in  front  of  the  those  ugly  Magic  Eye  posters  or  wearing  3-­‐D  glasses  to  movies  like  those  silly  binocular  people!

Amy  Michelle  Yom  the  founder  of  the  Congenital  Glaucoma  Network (www.congenitalglaucomanetwork.com)  and  was  born  with unilateral  congenital  glaucoma.  She  has  been  functionally  monocular  for  the  past  thirty  years.  Five  months  ago  she  opted  to  have  an evisceration  surgery  and  now  wears  scleral  shell  prosthesis.  She  may  be  reached  at  congenital.glaucoma  [at]  gmail.com.