Have you ever wondered what life would be like for you if you could only see out of 1 eye?
Being able to see out of just 1 eye is known as ‘monocular vision‘. It is referred to as a vision impairment whereby one eye is either blind or simply unable to take in images that a healthy eye would.
Monocular Vision:
With monocular vision, there are a number of common obstacles that are associated with it. The most common is the inability to determine the depth of objects that are close to you.
Living with monocular vision, means you have to rely on weaker depth perception cues such as texture gradient which is the amount of detail in an object. The more details in the object, the closer it will be perceived.
Depth Perception:
Depth perception is the ability to see things in 3 dimensions and to judge how far away something is. In order to have accurate depth perception, you generally need to have binocular (2 eyed) vision.
With monocular vision, it can affect our depth perception and cause us to have:
- Poor reading fluency
- Difficulty with sports
- Poor spatial awareness or clumsiness
Living with Monocular Vision
This week, my grandmother went for her long-awaited cataract surgery. A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens on our eyes. If you have a cataract, it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.
When she was first diagnosed 3 years ago, we were told the cataract needed to mature before we could operate. According to my Nan, her vision was already cloudy so she became worried about how much worse it could become.
It was then, that we started to look for daily living aids to help her around the home and make her life that little bit easier. Items and appliances such as:
Uccello Kettle:
Nan loves her tea (very strong, 2 sugars, and a drop of milk). The kettle is always going. When I saw the Uccello Kettle, I thought this would be ideal, the 2 different colours (red and white) making it easier for Nan to make it out and the tilt-to-pour action means she won’t burn or scald herself if she misses the cup.
Cordless vacuum:
She would not be able to see the cord, and this would leave her open to trips and falls. A cordless vacuum is wall mounted and removes the risk of injury.
Magnifying glass:
To help her with her other eye which already had a stigma to it. The magnifying glass has a light on the front to help brighten a page, book etc. Ideally, helping to make life easier.
Stairlift:
Getting older, Nan always said she was a little footy and with her vision being down to 1 eye now and her depth perception affected, we didn’t want to risk it. Now she has a stairlift. We feel more at ease, and she loves it.
Practical Tips for Living with Monocular Vision:
- Let your nearest and dearest know what is going on. Tell them it is easier for you to have them walking or sitting on the side you can see from.
- Use daily living aids such as railings when going up or downstairs.
- Make use of blind spot mirrors in your car for extra protection.
- Turn your head slightly to see more things on your bad side – you do get used to doing this.
- When stepping down from a raised surface, move slowly and point your toe at the ground to help you judge where the surface is.
- Move slowly when grabbing at things in close proximity.
- Be patient, give yourself time, and try not to stress.
Do you or someone you know struggle with monocular vision and limited visibility? Click Here Now to learn more about our Uccello Kettle and how it can bring safety, style, and independence into the kitchen.
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