Playing Sports with One Eye

You can practice all the skills needed to perform everyday tasks with one eye using a ball. By bouncing a ball off a wall or tossing it back and forth with someone else for a few minutes, you can greatly improve your visual skills. Start with a large ball and switch to a small tennis ball later. It’s also a good idea to start with a balloon. It moves more slowly than a ball and won’t hurt if it hits your good eye. Fast-paced ball games with a small ball, such as tennis and table tennis, are actually the most difficult sports for people with one eye. With some sports, it takes a little longer to get the hang of them again than with others.

• 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 are coming up ahead of you.
• 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. Wear sports sunglasses even when the sun isn’t shining.
• 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.

Do you have any good tips to add to this list? Let us know at info@ver-ooginoog.nl

• If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at bewegenensport@visio.org
• On our YouTube channel, you’ll find videos about exercising with one eye.
• You’ll find lots of tips on the EduVip website.
• Enter the keyword “Sports” in the search field on the Visio Knowledge Portal to find more articles.
• Sports coaches can find information about sports for people with visual impairments at Zichtbaar Sportief.
• Here you’ll find a list of sports clubs with facilities for people with visual impairments.
• If you want to go running with a buddy, check out Running Blind.
• Sports club for people with visual impairments.

Learn more about living with one eye