Tips for Seeing with One Eye

• Use your pinky fingers, for example, when you want to put a cap on a marker.
• Use sound cues (e.g., have the cup make a lower-pitched sound when it’s full).
• Use contrast (e.g., milk in a red cup).
• Make sure you have good lighting coming “at an angle from above.”
• Make sure there is contrast (differences in brightness).
• Don’t use a monitor or TV that’s too big. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep moving your head.
• Practice hand-eye coordination (softball, embroidery).
• Install extra mirrors on your bike or in your car.
• Use a reading ruler so your eyes don’t have to strain too much.
• Place the spout against your cup as you pour.
• Grab something by sliding your hand in from the side. That way, you’ll have less trouble with depth perception.
• There are tools to help thread the needle.
• Start playing ball sports by practicing with a balloon.
• Always wear protective safety glasses when playing sports, as well as when gardening, working with machinery, welding, or using household chemicals. And, of course, when setting off fireworks.
• Find a position diagonally across from “something” (a blackboard, a sports field). That way, your blind spot will bother you the least.
• Take some time to get used to seeing with one eye.
• Move your head and/or eyes more than usual. Ask a physical therapist to help guide you through this process at the beginning.

“I’m constantly bumping into people” is one of the most common complaints from people who have lost an eye. These collisions almost always happen when you make a sudden turn toward the side where you’re missing an eye. So always turn your head first, and then your body. Check your blind spot before turning. The habit of checking your blind spot will eventually become second nature. But try to get into the habit right from the start of always checking your blind spot whenever you change direction. This applies to activities such as swimming, skiing, cycling, ice skating, or boating—and especially to driving.

Left-handed people often choose a seat at the table where they won’t get in the way of their right-handed neighbor while eating. In the same way, you can choose a seat that’s optimal for your dominant eye. That way, you’ll feel more at ease—and therefore a little more confident!

But even if you’ve chosen the best spot, that’s still no guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Pay special attention to the waitstaff: they might suddenly appear on your blind side, which can lead to awkward situations. So always take a quick glance in that direction before making a wide gesture. It’s not exactly pleasant to have a bowl of soup spilled all over you!

• If you can see out of one eye, you can use a brightly colored ball or shuttlecock, for example. Start by practicing with a balloon. It moves more slowly than a ball, and it won’t hurt if it hits your good eye. Later, switch to a real ball, and eventually move on to a small tennis ball.
• You can also adjust the rules of the game, such as the rule in tennis that allows the ball to bounce twice.
• In hockey and soccer, it can also help to think carefully about your position on the field. What works best is often a very personal matter.
• Don’t play tennis while wearing varifocal glasses. The different prescriptions make it especially difficult to see when serving.
• Do you like biking, but have trouble keeping your balance? Then consider a tricycle or try riding a tandem bike—that way, you won’t have to steer yourself.
• There are buddies in various cities who you can go for walks, bike rides, and runs with.
• Take some private lessons. Trainers are often willing to give a few lessons at a discounted rate.
• Tell your fellow athletes about your visual impairment. That will help them understand.
• When mountain biking: ride at the back of the group so you can see what obstacles the riders in front of you encounter.
• Wear a cap or a sun visor.
• Wear safety glasses, possibly combined with a contact lens, to protect your good eye.
• When cycling, wear a good pair of sports sunglasses with wide lenses. The light can quickly become very bright, and with regular sunglasses, bright light also comes in from the sides.
• Don’t ski in the fog.
• When you’re biking outside in the dark during the winter, it’s hard to see the road ahead clearly. That’s why you should install a wide-beam light on your bike.
• When riding a horse: you tend to lean too much toward the side of your eye prosthesis. Be mindful of that.
• Read more about playing sports with one eye.