What changes when you start seeing with just one eye?

People who are born with only one eye or who lost an eye at a very young age almost automatically develop a different way of seeing. However, when people lose an eye as adults, they have to relearn how to perceive depth and estimate distances. That takes some getting used to at first. A number of everyday tasks have become much less intuitive.

Symptoms that may occur, especially when you first start seeing with one eye, include:

• Headaches (either more or fewer).
• Falls / missteps on steps.
• Missing or reaching for something.
• Throwing things around.
• Pour it somewhere nearby.
• Problems with (ball) sports.
• If you don’t write neatly on the line, you’ll lose track of the line.
• Distraction caused by shiny surfaces.
• Having trouble seeing in low-light conditions (poor lighting).
• Getting startled when someone comes in from the “wrong” side.
• Difficulty getting an overview (for example, a large map, a room full of people).
• Do you tend to bump into other people in crowded places (such as in a city)?
• Difficulty estimating speeds (of oncoming cars), or difficulty focusing on close-up objects.

Learn more about living with one eye